Making myself a little bonfire

[EvianBaby]

I've got a ton of old paperwork I need to get rid of but it's too much for the shredder.

I'm pretty sure the LL of my office will be happy to let me have a little bonfire at the back of the yard but I don't actually know what I'm doing......

So, how do I get one going and control it?

[jackthehat]

It would be better if you could get a metal container (old oil drum, etc) to limit the spread.....it will also prevent half burnt stuff 'wafting' onto neighbouring property.

[EvianBaby]

Is it literally just a case of putting a match to it all once it's in there or should I add something for a bit of extra woof?

[jackthehat]

You'll need to watch over it.
Put some in and then set a match to it once it catches you can add more and more.....you know what 'surrounds' the area better than me, but you should *never* start a fire and then leave it to burn itself out!

[EvianBaby]

Thanks Jack. There is rather a lot of wood on the yard (as that what all the buildings are made of) so I'd probably do well taking your advice.

Will have a word with him later and see what he's got I can use as a container.

[Davethedog]

Light one piece of paper and add to it slowly. If you light it and then drop it all in youll swamp it and put it out.

As Jack says a container is good - a metal dustbin is best then when all the paper is is in ou can put the lid on (letting air in)

Don't use any form of accelerant

[daftgrandad]

Morning Evian.
Very good advice from Jack,but please,under NO circumstances,add something
for a little more "woof".This would be very dangerous and could be fatal,if you are standing too close.

[EvianBaby]

Okey doke, thanks all. I'm fond of having eyebrows so I'll keep it simple with a just a match :)

[Hopkirk]

Have a hose ready, in case it gets out of control.

Paper burns pretty vigorously, and can throw up burning embers. Are there any thatched buildings nearby?

I think you would be unwise to do this.

No doubt your boss will decide he needs to do a H&S risk assessment before you go ahead.

[EvianBaby]

Fairly sure boss (aka big brother) will not be bothered about any sort of risk assesment, he'll probably give me some stuff to chuck on it.

The yard is all gravel and I would do the bonfire furthest away from any of the units. The LL has a little spot where he has his own every now and then. There's nothing really in close proximity other than a fence and on the other side of that just fields.

Have a hose and buckets at full disposle - they are the LL idea of a fire extinguisher.

[Hopkirk]

LL?

[EvianBaby]

Landlord

[Ric.ror]

I often burn things in the garden - including all paper that I would otherwise shred. Apart from the safety aspects I always ring the local fire station and let them know I am having a controlled fire - that way they are not called out needlessly

[vivandorron]

There are fields behind my house/cottage and, whenever I light a bonfire, I like to know that the wind direction will take smoke and smouldering bits across the fields.( Providing they are still grass and not hay.) It's certainly a good idea to burn papers in a metal container which could be quickly doused with a bucket of water, if a hose pipe cannot be made avaiable.

Ron.

[Hawkwalk]

worth noting that if this is waste produced by a business then it is illegal to burn it without a waste management licence. It is also possible that burning is not permitted in your area. Recycling is the prefered method of disposing of paper so a license is unlikely to be granted.

[EvianBaby]

Thanks for all advice. Haven't spoken to him yet as I wasn't in yesterday but will take all on board when I do.

Hawk - had no idea it was illegal to burn business stuff. I was intending on doing my own old bank statements, etc but we do have a lot of old paperwork at work which needs getting rid of. We do have a waste disposal licence that we have to use for taking stuff to the tip but there is way too much to be shredded first and I wouldn't take it there all intact for anyone to see. I've looked into the cost of these companies that come and collect and destroy but the bosses aren't keen.