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You could have crafted them into items such as the new sets released but now its too late.

Most of the time they just turned into Scorched Crates (which also disappeared at the same time). You could also rarely get a weapon from it, like the Lollichop.

You were supposed to "Use" them (like any other usable items (paint cans, noisemakers, keys, etc.)).
Most likely, you'd get a limited-time crate, but you might get a Pyromania Update weapon instead.
http://wiki.teamfortress.com/wiki/Pile_Of_Ash

You use them , then they dissapear , you give them their freedom and you get nothing , thats just it.

lol you were supposed to click "use" in your inventory. You could get scorched crates or Pyromania items.

You could uncrate them, like a crate. But without a key.
/thread

I opened like 4 Piles of Ash. Got a few crates that did nothing with, Baby Face's Blaster and Lollichop. You should've opened them, they had shit inside!!

You get ash, from 4 ashes you craft 1 pile, and than you use it to get some item or scorched chest. They were promo for pyro appearing in tf2, and now they disappeared. I think they disappeared at 7.11. I for example got 6 chests and one lollichop.