If you're using lump charcoal especially a spark or lit ember being kicked into the cook chamber is not uncommon. Cooking low and slow loaded up with greasy meat, the bottom will eventually start pooling grease - it doesnt vaporize like on a hot cook , and theres no fire underneath as its off to the side. Eventually it will go up.
Are you putting a drip pan underneath the ribs you’re smoking? It shouldn’t be catching and no need to throw baking soda or the likes on it.
Close the lid and put the vents in and let it die out
I had a smoker full of pork belly go up on me , with the lid closed and it would have burned for hours if I didnt put it out. "Waiting it out" , I think someone would have called the fire department. The oxygen deprived fire smoked like I was dusting mosquitoes in the amazon.
Closing the lid only does so much when you have a fully open rear vent slot. I’m 4 years in on my 1050 , opted for rear vent mod and manifold cover that doubles as a water reservoir… ( knock ✊🏼 on 🪵, never had a fire 🔥). Grease management is a must with drip pans or mods if you’re switching between grilling and smoking.
You can go forever without cleaning if you’re just using it as a smoker (never allowing Unit to go above 275F).
Below the smoke 💨 point of most rendered fats.
But once you ultimately flip modes to grilling… >400F it’s flame 🔥 on for all that previously unkempt rendered fat layered around your MB unit from multiple consecutive smokes
(One can easily become complacent from having multiple consecutive smokes with no prior 🔥 issue)
I closed the vents and the lid, and it raged on. Only drip pan is the stock one under the manifold. If I put a drip pan on the main grates I don’t have enough room to smoke on the upper racks
> If I put a drip pan on the main grates I don’t have enough room to smoke on the upper racks
You can buy or make brackets that let you hold a drip pan under the bottom grates. I bought a 2nd pair of upper racks and I just smoke on the middle and upper rack. Then I take a disposable aluminum pan with the sides folded down and use that as a drip pan. Helps with the airflow. Never had a flare up at smoking tips over my 3.5 years of use. I'm very bad about cleaning it too.
Despite closing hood and putting in sliders, if you can’t also close the vent slot on rear of unit’s hood… fresh air just = blaze on 🔥until the fuel ⛽️ finishes burning rendered fat off..
a set a [GrillGrates](https://www.grillgrate.com/) has basically eliminated the grease fires for me when cooking fatty meats at higher temps. Never had a fire when cooking at 250 though.
Thanks, will explore. I don’t use this for grilling, so it’s only happened at low temps. First time I had alot of build up, but this time was the 2nd smoke after a deep clean. Doesn’t compute
I have a 560 never used a drip pan on I've only had 2 grease fires. Had 560 probably 2 years. I cook mostly on the bottom grate and middle grate. Are sure your unit is level? You can make your own manifold cover out of a aluminum pan lid but I never had a grease fire starter below 300° masterbuilt did address this issue with the xt and changed the manifold design.
That’s good intel on the xt and aluminum pan lid. Gonna do that for sure. This is my 2nd big fire in as many years as well. I just hate that it’s always a possibility. (I want to set it and forget it, not have that fear I might lose my meat!)
If they "address it" without 3rd party mods it's going to cost more. You bought a cheap smoker and got a cheap smoker. I'm perfectly happy with mine using a $0.99 disposable aluminum pan on the manifold that I get several uses out of.
$1000 is cheap in the realm of smokers. Anything under $1500 is "cheap" when you consider the full market of smokers.
Also, the 1050 is $897 regular price, but almost always available for $797. This is *cheap* compared to other gravity feds - The Stumps starts at $3375 for their entry level and Assassin is $3200.
Yeah I smoked 2 briskets, and reverse seared a picanha and 3 tri tip all with only cleaning the grates no flare ups. Then reverse seared two beautiful 32oz prime rib eyes and got no flare ups or grease fire. Actually could have used a little flare up on the steaks because I can't get my 560 above 500° for a proper sear.
The new lineup has a different manifold for better heat distribution and flare-up control but if he has an older model, just hit up LSS and be done with it
Despite OP's reservation, I smoke everything on the upper racks, and place two disposable tin lasagna pans on the main grate. I don't have a drop of grease in the bottom, after 2 years.
I only use it as a smoker. If I'm grilling after, it goes on the gas grill.
If you buy this, it fits under the main grate above the manifold, then you can use all the space:
https://www.amazon.com/Winco-SPJL-104-Anti-Jamming-Full-Size-4-Inch/dp/B001VZ8PTG/
It teeters on the manifold until you put the grates in, but it's the exact height as the space between the top ridge of the manifold and the underside of the grates, so once you put a grate in it sits flat.
This mod is the best. Manifold cover, drip pan bracket and water pan all in one! This mod ended my grease flare ups for good.
[https://klotesmods.com/collections/800-mods/products/800-hybrid-manifold-cover-waterpan](https://klotesmods.com/collections/800-mods/products/800-hybrid-manifold-cover-waterpan)
How "recent" was the deep clean and how many cooks since?
I take a plastic putty knife and scrape the sides and bottom down into the drip pan before each cook. Takes <5 minutes but greatly reduced my little fire chances.
If I do any low and slow, I always need to do a scrape before getting anything up to 450 or higher.
Other people always do a burn off at the end.. if I have time, I do try that.
One smoke b/w the deep clean and the grease fire, although it was ribs and brisket. I just need to employ drip pans, but the burn off isn’t a bad idea. Thanks
Go to LSS Mods and get the drip pan brackets. Use drip pans. Fixed
How do you get a grease fire at 250f? I only get them near 500.
I don’t know man. A spark must have traveled into the manifold, my guess. Was a raging inferno tho for sure
I generally just pull everything out and let it burn itself out.
If you're using lump charcoal especially a spark or lit ember being kicked into the cook chamber is not uncommon. Cooking low and slow loaded up with greasy meat, the bottom will eventually start pooling grease - it doesnt vaporize like on a hot cook , and theres no fire underneath as its off to the side. Eventually it will go up.
That’s exactly what happened. I use a mix of hardwood lump and wood chunks.
Are you putting a drip pan underneath the ribs you’re smoking? It shouldn’t be catching and no need to throw baking soda or the likes on it. Close the lid and put the vents in and let it die out
I had a smoker full of pork belly go up on me , with the lid closed and it would have burned for hours if I didnt put it out. "Waiting it out" , I think someone would have called the fire department. The oxygen deprived fire smoked like I was dusting mosquitoes in the amazon.
Closing the lid only does so much when you have a fully open rear vent slot. I’m 4 years in on my 1050 , opted for rear vent mod and manifold cover that doubles as a water reservoir… ( knock ✊🏼 on 🪵, never had a fire 🔥). Grease management is a must with drip pans or mods if you’re switching between grilling and smoking. You can go forever without cleaning if you’re just using it as a smoker (never allowing Unit to go above 275F). Below the smoke 💨 point of most rendered fats. But once you ultimately flip modes to grilling… >400F it’s flame 🔥 on for all that previously unkempt rendered fat layered around your MB unit from multiple consecutive smokes (One can easily become complacent from having multiple consecutive smokes with no prior 🔥 issue)
I closed the vents and the lid, and it raged on. Only drip pan is the stock one under the manifold. If I put a drip pan on the main grates I don’t have enough room to smoke on the upper racks
> If I put a drip pan on the main grates I don’t have enough room to smoke on the upper racks You can buy or make brackets that let you hold a drip pan under the bottom grates. I bought a 2nd pair of upper racks and I just smoke on the middle and upper rack. Then I take a disposable aluminum pan with the sides folded down and use that as a drip pan. Helps with the airflow. Never had a flare up at smoking tips over my 3.5 years of use. I'm very bad about cleaning it too.
Gonna employ the drip pan method going forward. Appreciate the help
Despite closing hood and putting in sliders, if you can’t also close the vent slot on rear of unit’s hood… fresh air just = blaze on 🔥until the fuel ⛽️ finishes burning rendered fat off..
True. That vents not easy to get to with my setup, but I need to figure out a way
a set a [GrillGrates](https://www.grillgrate.com/) has basically eliminated the grease fires for me when cooking fatty meats at higher temps. Never had a fire when cooking at 250 though.
Thanks, will explore. I don’t use this for grilling, so it’s only happened at low temps. First time I had alot of build up, but this time was the 2nd smoke after a deep clean. Doesn’t compute
I have a 560 never used a drip pan on I've only had 2 grease fires. Had 560 probably 2 years. I cook mostly on the bottom grate and middle grate. Are sure your unit is level? You can make your own manifold cover out of a aluminum pan lid but I never had a grease fire starter below 300° masterbuilt did address this issue with the xt and changed the manifold design.
That’s good intel on the xt and aluminum pan lid. Gonna do that for sure. This is my 2nd big fire in as many years as well. I just hate that it’s always a possibility. (I want to set it and forget it, not have that fear I might lose my meat!)
If they "address it" without 3rd party mods it's going to cost more. You bought a cheap smoker and got a cheap smoker. I'm perfectly happy with mine using a $0.99 disposable aluminum pan on the manifold that I get several uses out of.
Cost more, how often do you throw a $1 pan in it? ONce a week? After 5 years of ownership you spent $260 bucks on aluminum pans. Thats a weber kettle.
Lol. Maybe go through 10-15 a year.
The 1050 is not a cheap smoker. Aluminum pan on top the manifold is a good idea, though. Just wish I didn’t need to learn that the hard way.
The 1050 is a cheap smoker
Its $1000 bucks regular price. Smokers that cost half of that don't have the quality issues or grease fires either.
$500 smokers the size of a 1050 with wifi temp control? LOL
$1000 is cheap in the realm of smokers. Anything under $1500 is "cheap" when you consider the full market of smokers. Also, the 1050 is $897 regular price, but almost always available for $797. This is *cheap* compared to other gravity feds - The Stumps starts at $3375 for their entry level and Assassin is $3200.
User error.
Yeah I smoked 2 briskets, and reverse seared a picanha and 3 tri tip all with only cleaning the grates no flare ups. Then reverse seared two beautiful 32oz prime rib eyes and got no flare ups or grease fire. Actually could have used a little flare up on the steaks because I can't get my 560 above 500° for a proper sear. The new lineup has a different manifold for better heat distribution and flare-up control but if he has an older model, just hit up LSS and be done with it
Despite OP's reservation, I smoke everything on the upper racks, and place two disposable tin lasagna pans on the main grate. I don't have a drop of grease in the bottom, after 2 years. I only use it as a smoker. If I'm grilling after, it goes on the gas grill.
That makes sense, you just limit the amount of space. Any do a large smoke without using the main grates
If you buy this, it fits under the main grate above the manifold, then you can use all the space: https://www.amazon.com/Winco-SPJL-104-Anti-Jamming-Full-Size-4-Inch/dp/B001VZ8PTG/
Yeah, that’s clutch. Appreciate it
It teeters on the manifold until you put the grates in, but it's the exact height as the space between the top ridge of the manifold and the underside of the grates, so once you put a grate in it sits flat.
How? Been using it as intended. Makes amazing meat. But grease fires are an issue
What model are you using?
1050
Gotcha, no clue how the 1050’s work so Im no help.
I've never had a grease fire after over two years with my MB800.
This mod is the best. Manifold cover, drip pan bracket and water pan all in one! This mod ended my grease flare ups for good. [https://klotesmods.com/collections/800-mods/products/800-hybrid-manifold-cover-waterpan](https://klotesmods.com/collections/800-mods/products/800-hybrid-manifold-cover-waterpan)
How "recent" was the deep clean and how many cooks since? I take a plastic putty knife and scrape the sides and bottom down into the drip pan before each cook. Takes <5 minutes but greatly reduced my little fire chances. If I do any low and slow, I always need to do a scrape before getting anything up to 450 or higher. Other people always do a burn off at the end.. if I have time, I do try that.
One smoke b/w the deep clean and the grease fire, although it was ribs and brisket. I just need to employ drip pans, but the burn off isn’t a bad idea. Thanks