Fire started in my offset smoker during a brisket cook last Saturday. Had to choose between saving the meat or the rig.

I was at my place in Austin, doing a full packer brisket for a family thing. Had the fire going good around 10 PM, figured I'd run a long slow smoke overnight. Around 2 AM I smelled something sharp, not like wood. Opened the door and saw flames licking up the side of the firebox where some grease had pooled and caught. I had a fire extinguisher in the garage but also didn't want to ruin 6 hours of work. Ended up pulling the brisket off, wrapping it in towels, and hitting the firebox with a wet towel until it died down. Meat came out edible but not great. The smoker has a black spot now. Anyone else ever had to make that call mid-cook?

3 comments

3 Comments

robinson.hannah3d ago

Is buying a new smoker really that big of a deal?

cora86318h ago

You ever try just seasoning it a few times real good? That fixed my temperature swing issues and I didn't have to drop cash on a new one.

ivan_mason3d ago

@robinson.hannah buying a new rig is a big deal, but pulling that brisket off and hitting the firebox with a wet towel worked for me too.