BURNING IN PITS OR TRENCHES

TM 9-1300-277

repeated at the same burning site within a 24 hour

enough to prevent cave-in. Size of the pit or length and

period. Generally, surface burning procedures are as

width of the trench will be determined by the quantity of

follows:

material being disposed of and by safety distances

established for the burning site.

(1) Stack items/containers in a pile on the

surface.

b. Place combustible material, such as scrap

wood, in the bottom of the pit at least 0.31 meter (one

WARNING

foot) deep.

VOLATILE

FLAMMABLE

LIQUID

c. Place munitions on combustible material,

WILL NOT BE USED TO FACILITATE

ensuring that the combustible material extends beyond

BURNING.

the layer of munitions. Layers of combustible material

and munitions will be formed as necessary, allowing an

NOTE

air space of not less than 0.31 meter (one foot) between

Volatile flammable liquid is a liquid

the top layer of munition and the top of the pit/trench.

whose vapor can be ignited at or

d. Pour motor/fuel oil over entire pile, if applicable.

below temperatures of 100 , i.e.,

ether, acetone, gasoline, ethyl

e. Prepare

ignition

train

accordance

with

alcohol, methyl alcohol, benzene,

Chapter 5.

toluene, zylene, anyl acetate, napalm,

f. Effect ignition in accordance with Chapter 5.

and JP-4. Diesel or fuel oil may be

poured over the material to assist

g. Inspect the pit for unburned or partially burned

combustion. Oil may be added either

munitions. Inspection will not be performed until at least

as layers are constructed or after all

12 hours after the fire has burned out. The inspection

munitions have been laid.

will be performed by one qualified person with a second

qualified person acting as a safety backup.

(2) Pour diesel/fuel oil over entire pile, if

applicable.

8-4. BURNING IN DEACTIVATION FURNACES

(3) Prepare ignition train in accordance with

A deactivation furnace may be used for the

Chapter 5.

disposal of certain munitions. A furnace is considered a

safer more expeditious method of burning such items as

(4) Effect ignition in accordance with Chapter

small arms ammunition, delay elements, primer

detonators, etc. Deactivation furnaces are described in

(5) Inspect the pit for unburned or partially

Chapter 6.

burned munitions. Inspection will not be performed until

8-5. DETONATION

at least 12 hours after the fire has burned out. The

inspection will be performed by one qualified person

Disposal by detonation is accomplished by

with a second qualified person acting as a safety

placing demolition charges or other explosive materials

backup.

or single or stacked quantities of munitions, priming the

charges, and detonating from a safe distance. Specific

8-3. BURNING IN PITS OR TRENCHES

instructions on the use of demolition materials and firing

Pits or trenches will be utilized if the possibility

systems are contained in the individual demilitarization

of propulsion exists or to limit fragmentation if

DWR's and in other chapters of this manual.

detonation should occur. Pits or trenches will not be

reused within a 24 hour period.

The applicable

demilitarization DMWR will be referred to for additional

information pertaining to disposal of a specific munition.

Generally, pit/trench burning procedures are as follows:

a. Dig a pit/trench at least 1.22 meters (four feet)

deep with sides sloping

8-2