WHAT? MY WHOLE SMOKER IS ON FIRE !!!!!!!!!

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jrod62

Smoking Guru
Original poster
OTBS Member
Group Lead
Jun 13, 2011
5,009
41
New Athens IL
Smoking two turkeys and a ham, The ham and one turkey is going in my side fire box smoker.

The other in my UDS. After getting them all in the smokers I got busy getting the rest of the food

going. I want to smoke everything around the 300+ so it takes a little while to get

the smokers up to that so I didn't check on the temp for awhile. I was using my Mavrick in the

UDS and a cheap walmart probe for the side fire box smoker. 45 min later I look at the reading

on the cheap one and it was reading HHH. So went outside to try to get it to read the temp.

FLAMES WAS COMING OUT OF THE MAIN CHAMBER !!!!!  WTF !!!

Open the lid and the flames was shooting up about 3 feet above the ham and turkey !!!!!

Wish I would have got a picture of that. Like a fool I grab the ham and turkey out of the smoker

surprise I didn't burn myself . Ran inside turn the oven on and put the turkey in it.

Went back out and took a picture. By this time the flames was like you see in the picture.

On the left side you can see whats left of my melted probe. Just glad it wasn't my Marvick .

So let it cool back down to around 300 then put the turkey back in the smoker.

I did a different set up in the fire box. Only thing I can figure out what happen was must

have been grease in the bottom of the smoker that caught on fire.

what a way to start the day !!!!!


Ok back to the beginning. Here the two turkeys for the day,


Used Chef JJ brine. Did add a gal of apple juice to the brine.

Both turkeys in a big bag with ice and the brine. for 24 hours


Put in front of the fan for an hour to try to dry out the skin some


Going to put garlic/butter mix under the skin.


Spoon works great for getting the butter under the skin.


In the pan is green pepper, onions, carrots and 6 cups of chicken stock.

Here they are before the great fire of 2012 !!!!!!


Here the setup that started the great fire.


Most of the time I use a weed burner to start the coal but last time I used it I burn my leg

with it so the wife took it away
wife.gif
.


The AMNPS  will go in the mailbox mod on my UDS. I lite the middle that way it will burn 

both ways. Weber starter cubes are great for starting the AMNPS.

Looking at this picture no wonder I'm always burning myself.


This one in my UDS


Making the gravy.


Here some of the sausage that I made , (summer sausage, Andouille, peperoni )


Also had some smoke cheese,bologna and Kielbasa  I did.



Everyone loved the turkeys. Between the brine and the butter under the skin. It was

super moist.

I wasn't going to make a post on this smoke but I just had to share the story

of the fire of 2012
 
Great looking spread!

The grease is what caught on fire. I had the same thing happen, just only difference was I had not put any food on. Unless your smoker is set at an angle for the grease to drain properly you will need to either clean it out or burn it off. I would clean it out. Burning it off has its dangers and you need to reseason the grates.
 
Great looking spread! Good thing you caught that fire in time. 

Grill / smoker fires are a sure way to ruin a good meal. I've noticed in my grill they tend to come after a few rounds of ABT's or anything else with bacon drippings. 
 
Gotta love adventures like this on Thanksgiving. Glad it turned out ok and you didn't get hurt.

Looks great too.
 
Great Job and glad everything turned out perfect!

I had to laugh at the "Wife took it away" statement... too funny.

Thanks for sharing.
 
Last edited:
Great Job and glad everything turned out perfect!

I had to laugh at the "Wife took it away" statement... too funny.
Thanks for sharing.

Thanks,
my wife thinks it's overkill when I get the weed burner out to lite 3 or 4 coals :biggrin:
 
[/quote]

Thanks,
my wife thinks it's overkill when I get the weed burner out to lite 3 or 4 coals :biggrin:[/quote]

Gee, that's no fun. You know the saying: "if a little is good, a lot must be better!" :D

Phoned in.
 
I have a question. I've smoked most all the common meats that would be smoked, but never done a ham. How long do you keep it in the smoker? Ham is already cured right? So you basically heat it, I guess?
By the way, all that food looks really good. I love the idea of all the butter under the skin of the turkey.
 
Last edited:
I have a question. I've smoked most all the common meats that would be smoked, but never done a ham. How long do you keep it in the smoker? Ham is already cured right? So you basically heat it, I guess?
By the way, all that food looks really good. I love the idea of all the butter under the skin of the turkey.
Yes. You are reheating and effectively double Smoking at the same time. I like low and slow. I use 200-225*F to an internal of 145*F. Comes out hot and juicy. You can add Sugars, Spices, etc if you wish. 

Jrod that was some luck catching the fire before the bird and ham was incinerated...JJ
 
Thanks everyone ,

Going out today to put some drain holes in the smoker so the grease will drain out from now on.

Don't every want to see flames like that again !!
 
Don't you guys remember the famous saying of the Pilgrims, "STOP, DROP, and ROLL!!!!"

I started to say job well done, but that seemed just wrong...

How about great job and Happy Holidays.
 
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