Etcetera

Fire Safety

pO157.

Posted to Etcetera on Thu May 31, 2012 at 10:14:37 AM EST (promoted from Diaries by port1080). RSS.

So a buddy of mine recently bought a house out in the woods, with a tiny clearing around it. We get brush fires every once in a while so he wanted to burn off all the vegetation surrounding his home in a 20-30' radius around the building. It had not rained recently so we figured we could rake the grass up into piles and start a small fire to burn off all the vegetation and create a fire break.

It didn't really work. It turns out that even grass that looks dry really doesn't want to burn, first with the application of flames from a military surplus flare, then using gas to get things going. Sure, it looks really badass when the flare hits the gas soaked grass, but eventually it peters out due to residual moisture once the accelerant burns off. In conclusion, that shit is hard and damn near impossible. We ended up giving up and spending the rest of the day drinking after wasting about half a gallon of gas on a quarter of the lawn.

Please feel free to share any other anecdotes of home safety gone awry.

Tags: written by pO157, controlled burn, fire (all tags)

This story: 30 comments (0 from subqueue)
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1

Re: Fire Safety

port1080.

Tue May 29, 2012 at 10:48:08 AM EST

none

This is what "SMH" was invented for...sigh...

Allons-y!

2

Re: Fire Safety

port1080.

Tue May 29, 2012 at 10:48:39 AM EST

none

Was this before or after you got rip roaring drunk at the gun range with the cub scouts?

Allons-y!

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Re: Fire Safety

pO157.

Tue May 29, 2012 at 05:38:31 PM EST

none

First off, I hope you enjoyed my drunk phone call and hope you reciprocate at a later time.

Now, the details. We were scheduled to go to the gun range that morning, but when we arrived we found it had been taken over by cub scouts. My range has a habit of randomly renting itself out to groups, especially on major weekends, without any notice to its members. Between that and the incident with the jackass drinking on the range which I complained about and did not receive a response I will not return next year.

ANYWAY. So upon arrival we were told by a hot mom that they were taking shit over. My divorced friend didn't care because she was hot. I was still kind of pissed, but anyway, that's how they get you. So we hung out at the gun store, stowed all the firepower at my place and traveled to his house. At which point I was on fire watch with the hose and premoistened the area which was not to be burned. 5 gallon buckets were also strategically placed full of water. The Forest Service had a fire danger of low for that day. While one person burned, the other person had the hose.

After we gave up, I policed the area with the hose, then raked everything under with a rake and shovel. As noted up thread that probably would have been just as effective as torching the whole place. Quicker, too. Live and learn. Anyway, then the drinking continued. I'll note for the record that my buddy is both a veteran and a former police officer according to the law as referenced by HidingFromGoro that means he is pretty much allowed to do whatever the fuck he wants so I don't think it's an issue of safety here.

I'll thank you to realize that we handled things in the most responsible manner possible.

America! I could teach you, but I'd have to charge.

3

How to burn down the woods

Ephraim Gadsby.

Tue May 29, 2012 at 01:24:30 PM EST

5.00 (informative, astute, astute)

If you want to start a fire, use kerosene or diesel fuel.  Gasoline is not a good accelerant. As you discovered, it burns off too fast to get things started. More importantly, it is not safe:

Gasoline has the dangerous combination of a low flash point combined with a high vapor density.   The flash point of a liquid is defined as the temperature above which the liquid produces vapors which can ignite or explode.  The flash point of gasoline is - 45 degrees F ( - 43 degrees C).  In practical terms, this means that at all temperatures above minus 45 degrees, liquid gasoline is producing vapor which can ignite or explode.  By comparison, the flash point of kerosene is 100 degrees F and the flash point of diesel fuel is 125 degrees F.

The vapor density is defined as the ratio of density of the vapor of a substance to the density of air.  Air has a density of one.  Substances with a vapor density of less than one are lighter than air and tend to dissipate easily.  Substances with a vapor density greater than one are heavier than air and tend to accumulate in low places.  Gasoline has a vapor density of 3 to 4.  At normal temperatures, liquid gasoline is producing vapors that can catch fire, and which accumulate in low places.

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Re: How to burn down the woods

pO157.

Tue May 29, 2012 at 05:40:08 PM EST

none

Jesus. Next time I need an arson consult, I'll contact you. That probably would have been the way to go.

America! I could teach you, but I'd have to charge.

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Re: How to burn down the woods

zyxwvutsr.

Tue May 29, 2012 at 05:52:29 PM EST

none

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Exit 8a Represent!

pO157.

Tue May 29, 2012 at 06:04:25 PM EST

none

That's how they do it in Jersey.

America! I could teach you, but I'd have to charge.

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Re: Exit 8a Represent!

zyxwvutsr.

Tue May 29, 2012 at 06:55:21 PM EST

none

Don't dress like that guy.

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Re: Exit 8a Represent!

Anywhere.

Wed May 30, 2012 at 07:26:21 AM EST

none

The only shirts that should be tucked in are undershirts or the ones with buttons down the entire front.  

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Re: Exit 8a Represent!

improper.

Wed May 30, 2012 at 09:25:57 AM EST

none

It seems like every one in the South likes to tuck in his polo shirt.

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Re: Exit 8a Represent!

Anywhere.

Wed May 30, 2012 at 09:42:51 AM EST

none

Tucking in a polo shirt is the combover of clothing.  Everyone can still see your belly.

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Re: Exit 8a Represent!

rickb928.

Thu May 31, 2012 at 10:55:23 AM EST

5.00 (funny)

Moron.

Next time you buy a polo, take a look at the tails.  If the one in the back is longer than the one in the front, it is designed to be tucked in.  The longer rear tail is intended to keep it tucked into your pants when you bend over to retrieve your treasured hole-in-one-ball.  Untucked, it can only be used to tuck under your butt to avoid any collar hike and look good on TV - not an issue for most of us, I suspect.

At least the designers were thinking of tucking the shirt in.  it also keeps it somewhat out of the way of your swing.  If you're wearing your polo to sop up the spills from your beer fest, leave it out.  It will catch the overflow lest it stain your camo cargo shorts, which is invisible.  No badge of honor for you then.

Seriously, am I also going to have to explain why the Pratt knot is the only knot to use, ever?  Are you people savages?  Gaaa!

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Re: Exit 8a Represent!

Ephraim Gadsby.

Thu May 31, 2012 at 01:09:39 PM EST

none

Re: polos - exhibit A.

I can't think of a reason why I would use a Pratt knot.

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Re: Exit 8a Represent!

zyxwvutsr.

Thu May 31, 2012 at 01:58:35 PM EST

none

Four-in-hand or a half Windsor. Or if you're really short a full Windsor.

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Re: Exit 8a Represent!

Ephraim Gadsby.

Thu May 31, 2012 at 02:01:46 PM EST

none

Did you know the Duke of Windsor didn't use the Windsor knot? His ties were thick.

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Re: Exit 8a Represent!

wayhip.

Thu May 31, 2012 at 09:50:52 PM EST

none

Or an XL tie for the Windsor

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Re: Exit 8a Represent!

wayhip.

Thu May 31, 2012 at 09:50:09 PM EST

none

Pratt knot? That's the one you use when you are on a sports trip somewhere going to dinner and coach insists everyone wear a tie and jacket. Soooooooo high school.

I for one either wear a Windsor or nothing at all....

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Re: Exit 8a Represent!

Anywhere.

Wed May 30, 2012 at 09:44:52 AM EST

none

Tucking in a polo shirt with shorts, incidentally, is the mullet of clothing.

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Re: Exit 8a Represent!

improper.

Wed May 30, 2012 at 10:24:25 AM EST

none

Haha

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Re: Exit 8a Represent!

T Slothrop.

Wed May 30, 2012 at 07:58:12 PM EST

none

I see it mainly on country club golf courses in July and August. Rich southern bankers are definitely the tackiest mofos on the planet.

[I'm not that guy.]

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Re: Exit 8a Represent!

stevetherobot.

Thu May 31, 2012 at 01:01:25 PM EST

5.00 (agreed)

Where I come from, the polo shirt tucked into khaki shorts and a floppy haircut is the de facto uniform of a certain species of upper middle class, white, Southern male.

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Re: Exit 8a Represent!

Anywhere.

Thu May 31, 2012 at 01:30:09 PM EST

none

Oh, yeah-- I wasn't implying that it was comparable in terms of social strata to the mullet, just that it was a similar theme: business up top, party down below.

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Re: Exit 8a Represent!

natophonic.

Thu May 31, 2012 at 02:22:26 PM EST

none

Well, I'm sorted for my Halloween costume: a Red Dragon propane torch kit, and a wig.

14

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Re: Exit 8a Represent!

improper.

Wed May 30, 2012 at 09:24:53 AM EST

none

That's what they use to kill weeds.

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Re: How to burn down the woods

Shy Elf.

Wed May 30, 2012 at 01:16:06 AM EST

none

There's a reason why practically all explosions in movies are filmed with gasoline explosions.

I've lit fires using dry grass as kindling plenty of times, but as you discovered it has to be really dry.

What kind of vegetation was there?  Except for maybe the roof tiles, a house is usually made out of things which will require some sustained fire contact to catch, and a normal lawn just isn't going to have enough fuel to catch it on fire, and they don't generate much soil carbon either.  Some smallish trees and brush or even tall grass might be a different story, though.

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Re: How to burn down the woods

Ephraim Gadsby.

Wed May 30, 2012 at 12:16:20 PM EST

none

For arson go with a mix of ammonium perchlorate, aluminum, heat treating salts, and airplane fuel.

4

Re: Fire Safety

thefadd.

Tue May 29, 2012 at 03:08:53 PM EST

none

If it's just lawn grass, wouldn't you be better off just digging it up anyway? I mean not as fun and all for sure but...

I HAD HAD SEX WITH HUNTER S THOMPSON. HE CAME IN MY MOUTH AND I SWALLOWED IT. I SHOULD HAVE HAD HIS BABY. WE WOULD BE BALLIN' LIKE KOBE'S SON!!

10

Re: Fire Safety

HidingFromGoro.

Tue May 29, 2012 at 11:43:52 PM EST

none

My house caught on fire on 4th of July 2007 after a neighbor kid's firework landed on the balcony.  Always keep a fire extinguisher in your house.  

That's my fire safety tip, thanks for reading.

I got more styles than prison got bricks- ain't that some shit?

12

Do What TnT's Military and Moral Leader Would Do

Haggis.

Wed May 30, 2012 at 06:55:35 AM EST

none

Declare the house a free fire zone and napalm the shit out of it.

I am shitfitter; hear me roar.

30

You used the wrong chemicals and gear

wayhip.

Thu May 31, 2012 at 10:00:03 PM EST

none

Next time try some 2,4-D. Then after a week or two use a tractor or maybe a BobCat(TM) to scrape all the dead vegetation off then bury it in a pit. Then put down some weed barrier, sand and gravel. Or plant some native grasses. While you are at it don't forget to chainsaw the closer trees as well. Get yourself a nice defensible perimeter set up.

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