My 14.5 WSM Tried to Kill My Family

[JeffJ]

Last Thursday I cooked up some chicken breasts in the 14.5 WSM. At 2 in the morning we were woken up by a very loud beeping noise. It wasn't the smoke detectors so at first we weren't sure what it was. We quickly discovered that it was the carbon monoxide alarm going off. So, my wife called the fire department. When they arrived they instructed us to wait outside until they could locate the source. We were thinking furnace all of the way. Well, it wasn't the furnace. Their monitor spiked when they went into the garage, which is where I pulled the WSM after I was done cooking. I've done the same thing countless times with the Jumbo Joe. They told us that and I mentioned I'd used the WSM earlier and was surprised it was the culprit given the coals were now cold. The lead fireman told me that even after the coals die down they still emit gas. So, going forward my garage cookers will stay outdoors overnight when I use them.

One of the firemen informed me that he had a Pit Barrel Cooker. Of course I was happy to inform him that I did too. Even though there was no fire they were wearing their really bulky uniforms, which was a shame because the female fire person looked drop dead gorgeous.

Anyhow, it was my wife's idea to share this story of my murderous WSM.

[Steve R.]

This is good information, JeffJ . Not only do I leave my cooker outside overnight after a cook, but it is critically important to emphasize to the 911 operator that there is no fire, just in case a drop dead gorgeous female is on duty.

[RonB]

Well, now I know what I'm gettin' my MIL for Christmas.

[Jerod Broussard]

Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[DWCowles]

Dang, I wouldn’t even imagine that the coals still put out gasses when they cold. I learned something new everyday. I’m glad you and your family is ok.

[Huskee]

Great info, thank you for sharing.

[HouseHomey]

Time to check my batteries in the carbon monoxide dectector. Nice going my friend. My cookers stay outside but it's still great info!

We got a real looker too just down the block at the firehouse. 😀

Shame on us. We are all pigs. 😀

[bardsleyque]

oink

[Steve B]

Pig you are not.
Stud muffin might be a better analogy.

[HouseHomey]

Haha!!

[MattTheGR8]

Thanks for sharing this warning, I've done the same thing with my cookers before. Maybe I should invest in a CO detector so I can meet a local firefighter. At least the ribs will be ready when she gets here!

[BourBonQ]

That one tip alone is worth the price of admission to AR, thanks for sharing.

[HouseHomey]

Yes sir!!!!

[Troutman]

Interesting, would never guess something like that could happen.

I made a boner one year in the garage. We were going to leave on vacation and the night before we grilled some steaks on my Weber 22”. The next morning just before leaving I emptied what I thought were dead coals into a garbage can then drug the garbage can into the garage. Maybe 20 minutes later as we were leaving I happened to see this raging inferno in said garbage can !!! Had we not noticed and left for that week, we may have come home to a burned down house.

We we can certainly kid around about these incidences , but be careful with cookers and live fires. They are potentially lethal !!

[HouseHomey]

Yup!

[Butchman]

As are really hot female firefighters!

[DoubleUpOrQuit]

Really glad this all turned out alright for you and the family. Thanks for sharing.

[jfmorris]

Well, the reality of the situation is that the coals were not in fact "cold" but still going to some extent. I keep all my grills outside, but do have a wood burning fireplace, and I never ever close the damper on the fireplace until the next morning after a fire, even if the fire looks like it is out when I head to bed. The WSM has enough air leakage that no matter how tightly you close the vents, the coals are still smoldering for a while, even if you cannot see any visible smoke.

[JeffJ]

Yes. The thing is I didn't try to squelch the fire. I wanted it to burn out. I usually won't pull a lit cooker like that into the garage unless it's cool enough to handle. Going forward, it stays out overnight.

[jfmorris]

I used to let the coals all burn themselves out too, but now I shut all the vents and kill the fire, and re-use leftover coals if any in the next fire.

Leaving it outside a closed garage overnight is a VERY good idea however.

[ribeyeguy]

Agreed. We too have a wood burning fireplace and the damper remains open long after a fire is "out". Better safe than sorry.

[Catmandu]

Good thing it was only the 14.5 WSM. The bigger ones don't mess around.

Glad your family is OK, and thanks for sharing this safety tip.

[FireMan]

I don’t ever put any of my cookers in my garage, so, I guess I will never meet any firefighters. Shoot!

[Nate]

Was it also your wife’s idea to share your thoughts on the drop dead gorgeous female firefighter?

Maybe you could Q for the fire department as a thank you and meet drop dead gorgeous firefighter without her turnout gear on!

[JeffJ]

Mentioning the hot female firefighter was my editorial decision.

[ComfortablyNumb]

JeffJ And now you hope she doesn't read this thread! ;-)

[Mudkat]

Boy I'm glad I don't have a garage! 😀

Good info Jeff.