Forest Fire Wood

[Murray01]

I have been monitoring my wood pile moisture for the past 18 months, it’s not drying compared to the day I cut and split it.

This Jack Pine was 15% MC last winter when cut and split, checking the MC over the summer the MC remains at 15%, other than peeling the bark off due to the black sooty mess I have unlimited firewood within walking distance ready to burn the same day it’s cut.

This fall I came across some big birch that was standing dead from the forest fire, cut one down out of curiosity. The bottom half for the tree is still solid, the top half is rotten. I harvest about a 1/2 cord of this fire kill birch, MC is above 44%, my meter only reads to 44% then flashes if above 44%.

Forest fire was in 2018 and wasn’t very hot as far as forest fire go.

My question is since the Jack Pine won’t dry any further will the birch not dry after splitting? Wondering if the forest fire changed the molecular structure of the birch as I suspect happened with the Jack Pine?

 

[Stoney Meadow Maple]

What sort of cover do you have on your wood pile?

 

[Murray01]

What sort of cover do you have on your wood pile?

Sitting on pallets covered with plywood. Exposed to sun and wind.

 

[stoveliker]

I wonder if the 15% may be the equilibrium moisture content for your area. Do you get lower mc "normally"?

I do think the birch will dry.

I guess the wood is altered on the perimeter of the trunk but not inside (if it was not too hot; wood is a decent insulating material). When you split it'll dry thru surfaces that were inside, even if the original outside surfaces may be less penetrable. (Though I could imagine the grain structure opens up when it gets hot, suggesting easier drying of a burned piece.)

 

[begreen]

I wonder if the 15% may be the equilibrium moisture content for your area. Do you get lower mc "normally"?

It's possible. That is the range our wood settles in at even though stored in a shed for years.

 

[EbS-P]

Here is the chart you want

https://www.fpl.fs.usda.gov/documnts/fplrn/fplrn268.pdf

 

[stoveliker]

Here is the chart you want

https://www.fpl.fs.usda.gov/documnts/fplrn/fplrn268.pdf

Though Saskatchewan isn't on there it seems.
Maybe Alberta is close enough.
In winter eq. mc is lower but in summer to November it's not much lower than what the op reads

 

[EbS-P]

Unless you live in the desert, 15% +- the accuracy of the meter, is probably as dry as you could get.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

The birch will dry.

 

[Murray01]

Thank you for your comments.

I have had Jack Pine that was standing dead but not burnt by the forest fire read in the 10-12% albeit a different moisture meter. That wood was in the woodshed for 3 summers. The burnt wood is a constant 15% after 2 summers in the woodshed. A couple of summers ago I poked the meter into some 2X4’s inside the woodshed (interior walls at least 20 years old) and was getting in the 10-12% MC.

I found it interesting that I can’t squeeze anymore moisture out of the fire dried firewood.

 

[Murray01]

The birch will dry.

Sure hope so, I guess I’ll find out mid summer.

 

[Murray01]

I wonder if the 15% may be the equilibrium moisture content for your area. Do you get lower mc "normally"?

I do think the birch will dry.

I guess the wood is altered on the perimeter of the trunk but not inside (if it was not too hot; wood is a decent insulating material). When you split it'll dry thru surfaces that were inside, even if the original outside surfaces may be less penetrable. (Though I could imagine the grain structure opens up when it gets hot, suggesting easier drying of a burned piece.)

The other weird thing is the MC is 15% when measured thru the outside of the log and the same 15% when split and measured again.

It is handy that I can cut, split and burn in the same day, I’m not complaining just curious.