Hey yall, Wan't to discuss somtin really serious with yall. Smoker Safety. Now that the nice weather is here, were all gonna be smokin more then we have been. We've all gots lots of things ta do and are gettin plenty busy, so we are gonna be tempted to take short cuts. PLEASE DON'T!
I've got so many smokes under my belt I can't even begin to count em. Been in maintenance many years and have given trainin on safety as well. Today I was in a hurry. Did a fine smoke yesterday of chickens. Today was very busy, just gonna do some ABT's fer a snack. So, rather then change the foil in my water pan I simple added a bit more water. Through some chips and chunks in my pan and fired up the smoker. I didn't cover my chip pan with foil like I always do.
I put the thermometer probe in the smoker and turned the unit on in the house. Wen't about my business cleanin up from makin the ABT's and gettin my canadian bacon project started. Peaked out the window every know and again, nice smoke. Then all of a sudden the remote fer my thermometer started beepin, I was over 275 degress in the box, this never happens, I always have control over my temps. Stepped outside and heavy smoke was pourin from the stack, thermometer was over 450 degree's.
I immediatly turned off the gas. Put on my cookin gloves, shut the dampers and eased open the door, the grease on top of the water in the water pan was on fire. My chip pan was flaiming. I pulled the chip pan out of the smoker usin my tongs and dumped it in a bucket of water I keep on the deck fer ash's. Usin the tongs I covered over my water pan with aluminum foil and got the fire out.
Today was a perfect case of gettin in a hurry and not followin proper procedure. There was recently another post on this forum of a member who had a flare up as well. PLEASE don't skip any steps, keep things clean, don't skip those important things like relinin yer water pan, coverin yer chip pan if thats what ya do. Be sure to use a remote thermometer that beeps when it reach's a certain temperature. Always pay attention to yer smoker.
Today's lesson wasn't very expensive, I lost a tray of ABT's that was all, raised my blood pressure up a few points and maybe shortened a few eyebrows. But it was handled quickly and without any further damage, other then to my pride.
So I could have just kept quite and never told yall, but, I think as a friend in this neighborhood of ours it is my duty to remind each of ya to be safe and carefull enjoying this art of ours. I don't want any of yas ta get hurt or loose a home just because we get in a hurry. My pride will heal, my eyebrows grow back nice and bushy again, I can make another batch of ABT's. PLEASE DONT CUT CORNERS! Stay safe and enjoy yerselves.
Good Smokes,
Tip.
I've got so many smokes under my belt I can't even begin to count em. Been in maintenance many years and have given trainin on safety as well. Today I was in a hurry. Did a fine smoke yesterday of chickens. Today was very busy, just gonna do some ABT's fer a snack. So, rather then change the foil in my water pan I simple added a bit more water. Through some chips and chunks in my pan and fired up the smoker. I didn't cover my chip pan with foil like I always do.
I put the thermometer probe in the smoker and turned the unit on in the house. Wen't about my business cleanin up from makin the ABT's and gettin my canadian bacon project started. Peaked out the window every know and again, nice smoke. Then all of a sudden the remote fer my thermometer started beepin, I was over 275 degress in the box, this never happens, I always have control over my temps. Stepped outside and heavy smoke was pourin from the stack, thermometer was over 450 degree's.
I immediatly turned off the gas. Put on my cookin gloves, shut the dampers and eased open the door, the grease on top of the water in the water pan was on fire. My chip pan was flaiming. I pulled the chip pan out of the smoker usin my tongs and dumped it in a bucket of water I keep on the deck fer ash's. Usin the tongs I covered over my water pan with aluminum foil and got the fire out.
Today was a perfect case of gettin in a hurry and not followin proper procedure. There was recently another post on this forum of a member who had a flare up as well. PLEASE don't skip any steps, keep things clean, don't skip those important things like relinin yer water pan, coverin yer chip pan if thats what ya do. Be sure to use a remote thermometer that beeps when it reach's a certain temperature. Always pay attention to yer smoker.
Today's lesson wasn't very expensive, I lost a tray of ABT's that was all, raised my blood pressure up a few points and maybe shortened a few eyebrows. But it was handled quickly and without any further damage, other then to my pride.
So I could have just kept quite and never told yall, but, I think as a friend in this neighborhood of ours it is my duty to remind each of ya to be safe and carefull enjoying this art of ours. I don't want any of yas ta get hurt or loose a home just because we get in a hurry. My pride will heal, my eyebrows grow back nice and bushy again, I can make another batch of ABT's. PLEASE DONT CUT CORNERS! Stay safe and enjoy yerselves.
Good Smokes,
Tip.
