All fired up!!!!

I went out to try and do drawing and get exact measurements of what I call my back 40 to start on the planning ideas you all gave me and what I discovered as me all fired up , which is a rare thing for me being an easy going person.

On the elevation property up behind me kinda kitty corner, some couple moved in. He got tired of some water being in his driveway and decided to redirect it. In the process he took down a bunch of Pines and hundred year old oaks that were beautiful. He stacked the pieces all up on the back corner of his property, along with a bunch of other junk ,close to the corner of my property and two other neighbors and set the whole thing on fire.

The flames were huge and burned for days and days. From the heat of his fire, I and my neighbors have one whole section of trees up in that area that have the backs of them all blackened burned. Some of the narrow limbs and leaves have all been scorched and are dead.

We are darn lucky all out properties didn't go up on flames. Last year we had to help battle a neighbors down the street property where some still warm ashes blew and caught three properties on fire.

Are my trees gonna die do you think? How can I tell if they are still ok. Can I do anything to help them and is there anything or any organization that can be contacted to stop this blatant type of neglect for our properties and trees.

I gonna put all them new shrubs and trees in and sure don't want to watch them go up as kindle. I and several other neighbors have kindly asked this person to stop and if he gonna burn use the center of his yard where there is nothing around, but he don't want to mes s up his grass. So instead he drowning and burning all the rest of our trees and flowers and some we have are on endagnered lists we are working to cultivate.

No offense to any young person here, but he young maybe 19 or 20 and works for a landscape company and says he gonna do what he wants and nobody is gonna stop him from doing what he wants on his property regarless as to how it affects those living around him.

We all out in the county and not to many rules. Most of us have burn piles for leaves and twigs and dead trees as there is no pick up for such things out here, but we all watch where we burn and do it in small amounts, as we have no regular fire department either and we value the trees and woods that we have.

Any advice on how to save our trees would be appreciated .

If the fire was hot enough you will most certainly see dieback of the branches on that side of the tree. There is nothing that can be done about it now, what's done is done. If the heat was intense enough to scorch the cambium tissue on that side of the trunk than the tree is probably a goner in a matter of time, fungi seems to enter very quickly into burn wounds of hardwoods. I would worry less about the pines, they are more adapted to fire than the oaks are, but even they can be killed if the fire is hot enough.

Out in the country you may not have a lot of rules, but I have to think that causing damage to someone else's property is still something that a person can be held responsible for. Depending on how significant the damage is you could either take them to small claims court to try and get reimbursed for the damage, or if it's a larger amt of $$ you might need a lawyer. And you could contact the police, they might be able to stop by and remind the guy that even though he can do whatever he wants on his property, he can't do things that are going to damage other people's property. And if you have endangered species that you're trying to protect and he damaged them, you may be able to get an environmental group to help you put a stop to any future burnings (and possibly $$ to help restore what was already damaged)...I'm sure there's a local chapter of the Sierra Club somewhere in your area and they might be able to point you in the right direction.

No helpful advice but I really feel for you. Over the years I've had a few neighbors who just don't get it. He may work for a landscape co. but he really doesn't understand nature. He must just be a grass hacker. You may have more trouble with him I have visions of him bringing home debris from work to burn. You said it’s a couple any chance you could talk to his wife. She’ll defend him to you but it will give her something to think about. Wait till you calm down it will go better. New in the neighborhood and all ready making enemies. Holly

I agree with ecrane3. Take pictures, have the trees assessed by an arborist. Show the redneck you mean business. If his property drainage run-off has been changed, speak to the county.

I won't speak against burning because I often burn brush piles myself, but it is common sense to keep the piles small if it can damage nearby property. He also should have been out there with a water hose to keep the flame from getting too high. It would be a shame if this one moron stopped everyone from being able to burn.

E-guy, you are a responsible person. This guy sure isn't. I doubt that some type of action by starlight and neighbors would result on a burning ban, though of course one never knows...

What kind of fire department do you have, starlight? Last year I read that there are some states/areas that have a member subscription service and unless you pay to belong, the fire company will not come to save you or your property! I knew that existed in colonial times - the beginning of the fire insurance industry - but I hadn't known that it still exists!

Anyway, whether it's subscription or a public service, it seems to me that if you and your neighbors go to the fire company that would cover your properties and show them pictures of the damage and tell them of your neighbor's attitude, he may get an official visit. He is a continuing danger because of that attitude. Law enforcement may also be interested, because of that attitude.

I'm sorry that this couldn't have been settled in a neighborly way. I suspect that despite the damage you and your neighbors would have accepted and apology and interest in learning how to do it the "right way". Because he sounds like someone who would retaliate, I would want an "authority" to step in so he knows he is being watched.

All the other suggestions are also good ones.

Some good ideas. Didn't think of that. Have a friend who an aborist in another town. Will get him to come out and see if he thinks the trees will live .

You guys also gave me a great idea. Total forgot all about this Ecrane mention enviromental groups. Gonna have to find out where to go and how to do it, but we have the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker that comes and eats and roosts in my yard and a few other of the close neighbors.

Maybe with that it will help our thoughtless neighbor consider what he doing before doing it. Think you have to stay so far away from their nesting areas or contain your work so as not to disturb them.

I am not against burning. Have to burn myself. I usually make small trails about a foot wide and no higher and start at one end and burn in a crazy pattern around the yard making sure the burning away from the trees trunks. Also got a huge pit in the yard, that I wil rake leave s on plastic and drag to to burn. Those of us out here have acerage and hundreds of trees. Most some peopel would probably consider useless trees, but not us. We can't rake that much acreage every year and with droughts and wild fires, it not good to have years and years of especially pine and oak leaves build up. Also helps with the understory and the rattler problems.

Too, since we all live in mobile homes, we really watch the weather for wind and drought before burning. When a good rain in the forecast it looks like everybody sending smoke signals to each other with raking and burning and using Mother Nature to help put out the burns.

LOL Escambia.... You gave me a perfect idea . He may not be out there with his water hoses, but all I need to do is buy 3 or 4 more water hoses that will reach up that far that don't have a water leak , get one of them 3 way hooky on things and attach water sprinklers to them. When he starts to burn in potentially dangerous spots, then I will just casually decide to water my yard then. Opps if my sprinkler happens to put out his fire. : ) Yes, I am bad, but I am very protective of my trees and the wildlife that lives around and among them. Maybe he will get the idea then. He's got a little over two acres he can find a spot to burn on.

I am not a court type person and people sometimes people do crazy things to get even. Won't take a chance on more damage. Soon as the holidays is over and know it safe to move them will get the items I especially need away from that area and up to the arboretum to their new home where they were destined to go and I know they will be safe.

While typing this I am reminded of when I first moved out here. There a property around the corner from me and one day I was taking a walk and looking at all the trees. I had seen this tree I had never seen before and thought it unusual among the other trees. decided I was gonna go investigate it. Didn't know anybody lived on the property, so I was quite startled to find this older lady waving a broom at me and running and yelling across her yard in her nightgown and pink curlers. I didn't know whether to be scared and run or laugh. Definately was the first, legs refused to do the second, and by the time I was done, was doing the last.

I stayed and explained to her, I was not threatening her tree, but was admiring it. Once she calmed down she let me stroll through her forest. She never lowered the broom though and while I was aloud to look, I couldn't touch. Personally I think she needs to do a little thining, but she refuses to remove any tree or seedling. She has 8 acres just jammed with natures own wonderland of trees. She doesn't even want anybody touching a leaf if it on the ground , and I thought I was protective. LOL I see her out all the time walking and scouting and taking inventory of each tree, making sure it still there. I smile, wave and chuckle to myself as I go down the road. : )

I feel bad for my trees, but feel lots better now in at least having a plan to protect them in the future. Gonna tell the neighbors, the next time he doe s this we will just fight fire with water. LOL

Starlight, it might be a good idea to invest in some hoses. I have over 500ft of water hose and I sometimes use all of it.

Maybe you should send the little old lady in the pink curlers after your neighbor! I bet she could knock some sense into him!

Here's a link to the Alabama Sierra Club chapter, if you look around on here I'm sure there's someone you could call and they can point you in the right direction on how to make sure your endangered species are protected
http://www.sierraclub.org/al/

Ecrane, thanks for sharing that link. I may look into attending some of their local meetings.