Whats the safest way to burn firewood outside?

Ive recently bought a house in the country and the last owners had lots of firewood. The city inspector inspected my house and said the firewood had to go. I don't have a chimney and it would cost too much to dump it. I was thinking of burning it because the house i bought has one acre of land with no brush to catch fire. Would this be safe? Do i make a pit or just burn it?