Smoking Chicken torches yard.

[stomachmonkey]

Took the kids around the corner to the park.

Daughter got tired early so we headed home.

Get onto our street and I smell smoke.

Kinda like burning leaves but not quite.

We put the bikes away and I come out of the garage to see a huge plume of smoke four doors down at Nathans place.

WTF??? I go down to investigate. Other neighbors are out and no one seems to notice.

I'm standing in front of Nathans house, his garage door is open so it looks like he is home.

John from 2 doors down comes over with his wife and he and I head to the back yard.

We open the gate and the entire yard is is burnt and the flames are within a foot of the house and wood perimeter fence.

Holy crap!!!!!

I find a hose and get the water going and tell John to start dousing by the house. I find a large carpet runner and start smothering the flames along the fence line till John can back me up with the hose.

We manage to get it under control and John asks if anyone is home, where are the dogs?

I say it looks like it, there's a chicken cooking on the barbecue.

I knock on a window and Nathan comes out and he is in shock.

His wife ran to the store so he was inside watching the baby and had no idea that his entire yard just burnt to a crisp.

It was windy yesterday, apparently something blew out of the barbecue and ignited the grass.

It was amazing, the entire yard went up in a matter of minutes and could have easily spread through the whole block.

Never leave the cooking unattended.

[HardDrive]

I assure you, this is not a concern here in Seattle.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Any Boy Scout knows "never leave a fire unattended". I follow this motto 100% of the time whether it's a candle or a bonfire.

[legion]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

Any Boy Scout knows "never leave a fire unattended". I follow this motto 100% of the time whether it's a candle or a bonfire.

Even if you're smoking a brisket?

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I can't say I've ever done that, so no.

The only time I "left a fire unattended" was when I evacuated my flaming 951 to wait for the F.D.

[vash]

no way, a backyard slowcook smoker will get me to stand guard the full time. i'll take some chances. boyscouts are paranoid. i heard they even whittle away from the body..crazy.

i guess this chicken got some payback. glad you got there on time.

[911Rob]

great timing and fast thinking on your part.

[MBAtarga]

Years ago, a co-worker's unattended grill flared up and caught the house on fire. By the time neighbor's noticed it and got his attention, it had already spread into the roof of the garage, via the eaves above the grill. Almost every wire in his house was damaged, as his electrical panel was in the garage wall.

[legion]

I keep my grill 15+ feet away from the house, on a concrete pad.