Stage II fire ban - no Traeger

[jersmith26]

Our area here in CO is currently under a Stage II fire ban which typically can last for several months. While propane grills are still allowed due to their automatic shutoff capability, pellet grills, just like charcoal grills and wood burning smokers are not as there is no immediate shutoff capability.

What’s the chance and could a pellet grill once turned off start some type of external fire. As mentioned, I don’t think the restriction is related to the fire while they are being used but more that there is no immediate shutoff capability. The flame while using a propane grill would seem more dangerous than whatever flame is left when shutting down a pellet grill.

Thoughts? Months is a long time to go without having access to my Traeger.

 

[CMTiger]

I can’t imagine anything is in any danger during the Traeger shut down period.

Also it’s very nice of you to give a crap what they say as far as that goes lol. Not sure if is comply or not haha

 

[RayClem]

There have been reports of fires spreading back through the auger tube into the pellet box. However, that is unlikely to occur unless your circulation fan fails. While the shutdown of a gas grill takes only a second or two, it does take several minutes for the Traeger to go through it shutdown sequence and consume the pellets in the fire pot until the fire goes out. However, I do not believe the fire hazard is anywhere near that of smoldering embers from a wood or charcoal fire that can persist for hours.

My daughter and her family live in Littleton, CO, so I am concerned about fire safety out there.

 

[midwest]

I wouldn't be out in the front yard with your Traeger fired up but other than that, if I were in your shoes I would not change anything. I would be curious to see who is going to enforce this. I would say if you happen to burn down millions of acres due to your pellet grill you could have an issue but I doubt they are going to be sending police out to check people grills. A certain percentage of the mouth breathers walking around don't know the difference between a pellet grill and a gas grill.

 

[Torstenlaw]

I wouldn't be out in the front yard with your Traeger fired up but other than that, if I were in your shoes I would not change anything. I would be curious to see who is going to enforce this. I would say if you happen to burn down millions of acres due to your pellet grill you could have an issue but I doubt they are going to be sending police out to check people grills. A certain percentage of the mouth breathers walking around don't know the difference between a pellet grill and a gas grill.

Depends how good the cook is smelling!

 

[RayClem]

I live on a corner. My Traeger is on an elevated deck that his highly visible to neighbors on walk on the sidewalk beside my property. Thus, if I lived in CO, I would be rather reluctant to push my luck in that situation. Hopefully, the OP is a little better concealed.

It would be a good idea to keep a pressurized water hose or a fire extinguisher handy... just in case.

 

[jersmith26]

Other than the smoke it produces mine is on the back deck and not that visible. I keep a fire extinguisher on the deck near the Traeger and my Weber Portable traveler gas grill regardless of fire restrictions. I really don’t see the Traeger as an issue relative to starting some type of larger fire. There are alot bigger fire starting issues to worry about.

 

[MidwestSmoker]

A common complaint about Traegers is that they don't produce enough smoke. That is an advantage in your case. Don't use smoke tubes during the ban and you should be fine!

 

[GrillMeister]

I bought my first Traeger because of a burn ban. My Big Green Eggs at the time were on an old wooden deck and I could not take the chance of an ember flying out and falling between the boards only to smolder before taking the whole deck, then house, then neighbors homes too.

Times have changed and now the Ceramic Grills have screens on they lower vents, but still they can send embers when getting going with the top off.

No open flame with the Traeger and that's been great during dry seasons.