If your Traeger catches fire, it’s essential put it out immediately.
Even a small leak can cause it to ignite. If you’ve recently built your grill, it’s essential to take steps to prevent this from happening.
So, why did my traeger catch fire? Well, it happened because I tried to smoke some fish.
When I opened the smoker, I smelled something burning. I immediately turned it off and noticed the smoke coming out from the vents.
As I looked closer, I saw that my fish was on fire! After panicking for a while, I realized that I closed the lid of the smoker before I put the fish inside.
I panicked even more when I realized how hot my smoker was getting! Luckily, the smoker wasn’t that hot.
I just turned off the smoker and unplugged it. Finally, I called the fire department and they came out to put the fire out.
All in all, my traeger was burned because I opened the lid before putting my fish inside.
Contents
Is It Possible for a Pellet Grill to Catch Fire?
Yes, Traeger grills are designed to start a fire. The temperatures inside the grill can reach up to over 700 degrees.
However, if you have ever owned one, you know that the grill doesn’t burn you.
Instead, the grease drips onto the flames and creates a nice smoky flavor to your food.
Is It Normal for Traeger Pellets to Catch Fire?
Traeger pellets, like any other wood pellets can catch on fire if they’re not dried properly. Therefore, it’s essential to keep your pellets dry and stored in a cool place before you use them in your grill.
Avoid storing them in a humid place or a place with extreme temperature changes since this can damage them and make them more prone to catching fire.
It’s also important to use a drip tray liner when cooking on a pellet grill to avoid having to clean them all the time.
As a result, when exposed to heat, the moisture in the wood turns to steam that then causes the pellets to catch fire.
Wood pellet fires are often triggered when a food item is placed on the grate and directly above the burning wood pellets.
A pellet fire occurs when there is an excess amount of moisture present on the pellets due to condensation or when water comes in contact with them.
Why Did My Traeger Catch Fire?
Excessive Grease Buildup on the Grill’s Drip Tray
Grease fires are quite common in charcoal grills, but they can also happen in Traeger grills as well.
They are produced by grease accumulation within the grill’s drip tray.
Grease fires are dangerous and difficult to extinguish because they spread very quickly and can cause severe burns to anyone near the grill.
Although your Traeger smoker is meant to keep grease from dripping onto the coals, that doesn’t mean that it can’t be a problem, especially if there is a lot of grease being cooked on the grill at one time.
The drip tray, which is located right behind the grill’s burner, can become clogged with grease if not cleaned regularly or if the type of food you are cooking is greasy itself.
When the amount of grease buildup reaches a critical level, it can ignite and cause a fire.
This can result in damage to both the cooker and the burner tube assembly.
To prevent this from occurring, it is advised that you clean the drip pan frequently to remove accumulated debris.
Even if you just smoke a brisket for a few hours and discard the ash from the grill after each use, it still needs to be cleaned thoroughly after every use to prevent damage to the unit and to your health.
Excessive Wood Pellet Buildup in the Firepot
When there is an excess of wood pellets inside the firepot, it can restrict the flow of air to the burners, causing your smoker to operate inefficiently and for a longer time than necessary.
When the pellets in and above the burn pot begin to smolder or burn excessively, they will release more smoke than normal into the cooking chamber.
This high pellet building is most noticeable after long periods of non-use of the smoker or when large amounts of wood pellets are added during longer cooks.
Another possibility is a grill grate that is warped or damaged.
Excessive ash accumulation occurs within the grates, which can cause them to sag down and block the flow of air to the burners.
This can also be caused by excessive use of lighter fluid when lighting a charcoal chimney starter, which can cause blockage of the air vents in the grates.
These blocked air vents can restrict the airflow to the burners, causing the unit to burn hotter than necessary and increasing the risk of a fire.
Another reason for excessive wood pellet buildup is when the unit ‘s internal temperature is too low or too high.
How to Prevent Fire In A Traeger Grill
Keep Your Drip Tray Clean All the Time
Many people who own a Traeger barbecue grill are unaware that there is a drip tray under the grilling surface to collect drippings from cooking meat.
For some reason, people often remove the drip tray while smoking meat. However, this can cause a fire because the drippings can catch fire.
To prevent this, always keep the drip tray under the grill when smoking meat.
Check Owner’s Manual for Proper Startup Procedure
Before lighting the grill for the first time, make sure to read the owners manual.
The owners manual will instruct you on how to properly light your grill, as well as tell you which items are prohibited during operation.
When it comes to ignition, some grills use a “hot start” method and others use a “cold start” method.
A hot start uses an igniter that generates heat that’s high enough to ignite the charcoal without an external heat source. A cold start starts the charcoal by lighting a match.
Before lighting the grill for the first time, make sure to read the owners manual for the proper startup procedure.
Use Only Dry Wood Pellets
Traeger grills are known throughout the grilling world for their amazing flavor and versatility.
However, some people don’t realize that these grills are very dangerous.
Traeger grills have an open flame, which means that they can easily catch fire.
Furthermore, the flame can ignite wood pellets that aren’t completely dry, causing a massive explosion. To avoid fires and explosions, you should only use dry wood pellets.
How to Clean a Traeger Grill After Fire Accident
Turn Your Traeger Grill on High
If you’re getting ready to cook a delicious steak or burger on your Traeger grill, but you notice that it has dirty or burnt parts in it, don’t panic.
All you need to do is turn your Traeger grill on high heat and let it burn for 20 minutes.
The high temperature will burn off any debris or burn marks on your grill, and your grill will be as good as new.
Use White Vinegar to Clean the Grill
A Traeger grill is a type of charcoal grill that is known for its slow cooking ability.
However, a Traeger grill has one major disadvantage: its maintenance is not easy. For example, the grill needs to be cleaned out after each use so that it doesn’t become clogged with ash.
This is usually done using some type of liquid cleaner, such as dish soap or bleach.
However, a Traeger grill can quickly get dirty due to its slow cooking heat.
Fortunately, there’s a better option for cleaning a Traeger grill: white vinegar. White vinegar is cheap and can be used to completely clean a Traeger grill.
It’s also non-toxic and environmentally friendly. Moreover, the vinegar won’t damage the Traeger grill’s paint job.
Try a Degreaser
A grease fire is a very dangerous cooking accident.
However, one easy way to clean up a grease fire is to use a degreaser. A degreaser is a chemical that is effective at removing grease and oils from surfaces.
It works by chemically breaking down the grease and oils into water and carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide then evaporates into the air, leaving no residue.
A degreaser works especially well on surfaces that have been exposed to high temperatures, such as cooking utensils and grill surfaces.
If your Traeger grill has caught fire, try using a degreaser to get rid of any burned-on residue.
Also Read: How to Store Traeger Pellets
Conclusion
In conclusion, your Traeger probably caught on fire because you didn’t clean and maintain your machine properly and because you used poor quality pellets.
Furthermore, you may have caused the fire by overfilling your hopper, by leaving the hopper door open, or by leaving the machine unattended while cooking.
Finally, you may have accidentally started the fire by touching the pellets when they got too hot.
You should clean your Traeger after every use, keep the hopper door closed, and never leave the machine unattended while it’s cooking. If you follow these safety tips, your Traeger will continue to run smoothly and safely.
