Forest Fire Wood

[Murray01]

I have access to Jack Pine that was burnt in a forest fire. The bark is starting to fall off the trees and with a bit of scraping 99% of the bark peels right off, extra work but I don’t want to touch the charred bark(messy). Fire went through in the spring of 2018. Trees are standing dead. Under the bark some of the wood is damp and of course evidence of bugs and woodpecker holes. I cut about a cord split and piled yesterday. I checked the fresh splits today with a cheap moisture meter against my readings from my dmm and the chart on moisture I found here. With the exception of a few pieces both readings were within 2%. The Jack Pine I’m getting 12-19% moisture, I checked some Jack Pine that my FIL put up 10 years ago and I’m getting a consistent 12-15%. I then checked the supports of his woodshed(cedar 4”X4”) and some random pieces of dimensional lumber all 12%. This wood is within walking distance from the cabin.

Does anyone see any issues burning trees that have been “dried” by a forest fire?
Since the old(+20 years) woodshed is 12% moisture is that the best I can expect for dry firewood? The 12% seems to be “background” moisture.

 

[EbS-P]

Nope. I’m a fan of burning the easiest wood to gather.

 

[bigealta]

Check the moisture on a fresh split. Like split it then test it right away. See what you get then.

 

[Murray01]

Check the moisture on a fresh split. Like split it then test it right away. See what you get then.

Mid tree 13%, trunk 15%. Cut 1 hour ago and measured immediately after splitting. Both readings I took in the centre of the tree looking for the highest moisture content I could find.

 

[ABMax24]

No issues with it. We used to burn lots of it as a kid while living in Slave Lake.

There's going to be a ton of it around here after all the fires we had/have this summer. I intend to start cutting it come Spring/Summer of next year. Might as well make use of it.

 

[Murray01]

Thank you for your replies.

I’ve been fighting creosote buildup and I’m in the process of eliminating wet wood as the cause. We only burn in the shoulder season so my suspicion is operator error. Told my wife that the next fire we have will be smaller and hotter to minimize creosote buildup rather than “to take the chill off the room”.

 

[Murray01]

No issues with it. We used to burn lots of it as a kid while living in Slave Lake.

There's going to be a ton of it around here after all the fires we had/have this summer. I intend to start cutting it come Spring/Summer of next year. Might as well make use of it.

I’ll look for you on highway 40. LOL

 

[kborndale]

Thank you for your replies.

I’ve been fighting creosote buildup and I’m in the process of eliminating wet wood as the cause. We only burn in the shoulder season so my suspicion is operator error. Told my wife that the next fire we have will be smaller and hotter to minimize creosote buildup rather than “to take the chill off the room”.

Curious, why would you only burn in the shoulder season?

 

[Murray01]

Curious, why would you only burn in the shoulder season?

Summer property. Here from mid April to mid October