Just like with any cooking appliance, there's always a chance that an unintentional fire may occur. Let's walk through safety precautions, prevention tips, and other FAQs.
What to Do if Your Grill Has a Fire
- Don't panic!
- Keep the lid CLOSED on both the grill and hopper. This will help snuff out the fire by preventing it from getting oxygen.
- If safe, move the grill away from other flammable objects or the side of any structures, such as your home or garage.
- Wait for the fire to go out.
- DO NOT use water or flour to put out the fire.
- DO NOT try to smother the fire.
- DO NOT unplug the grill.
- If an uncontrolled fire does occur, immediately call the Fire Department.
- Give your grill a thorough cleaning.
- Turn on and ignite your grill. Make note of any abnormal behavior. If you find that it is igniting differently than normal, give our Customer Support a call, and we'll be happy to assist you in diagnosing further issues.
- Review our fire prevention tips below for best practices to prevent future fires.
Does My Grill's Warranty Cover Damage Caused by Grill Fires?
Generally, damage caused by fire is not covered under warranty. That said, grill fires usually don't render a grill unusable. In rare cases where fire damage prevents a grill from functioning, you may purchase replacement parts.
If you are unsure what needs to be replaced or have additional questions about the warranty, feel free to contact Customer Support for further assistance.
Common Causes & Prevention Tips
Common Causes
- Grease spill
- An unclean grill
- Using an Insulation Blanket when the grill is set to over 350°F or when the outside temperature is over 32°F/0°C.
- The grill did not ignite properly (usually due to improper maintenance).
Fire Prevention
- Ensure your grill is always cleaned thoroughly.
- We recommend not exceeding 20 hours of cook time between cleanings.
- If you are cooking greasier foods, such as bacon, you may need to clean more often.
- Keep an eye out for grease pooling, meaning grease puddles instead of draining properly.
- Grease should flow smoothly down the drip tray and into the grease bucket or grease tray.
- Grease pooling is generally caused by:
- Improper placement of the drip tray or drip tray liner
- Tinfoil that is not flush to the drip tray
- Dirty or damaged drip tray
- Dirty or damaged grease trough
- Before starting your grill, make sure the firepot isn't full of ash or overflowing with pellets.
- Always start/ignite your grill correctly.
- Always allow your grill to fully complete its shutdown cycle before powering it off. Failure to do so can prevent the grill from burning off remaining pellets in the firepot and may cause a fire.
- Store your pellets in an airtight container.
Types of Grill Fires
Grease Fires
Grease fires typically start on the drip tray and spread from there, usually caused by accumulated grease and food debris.
If your grill is new or relatively new, you can perform a water test to make sure grease is flowing properly.
After a grease fire, the interior of your grill will likely have white ash/residue, similar to the images below:
Pellet Fires
Pellet fires are caused by a large buildup of pellets in the firepot. If there is no fire in the firepot, the pellets will continue to feed and eventually overflow. A pellet fire occurs when all these pellets in and around the firepot ignite.
Smoke Coming from Hopper
If you see smoke coming from your hopper, check out Smoke Coming out of the Hopper. While this isn't typical, it's not usually dangerous and is just caused by pellets smoking in the auger.