Hey fellas,
Not sure of the right place to ask this. Just wondering if anyone knows whether its ok to use a gas fired smoker on total fireban days.
I'm finding it difficult to interpret the guidelines for this scenario as it explicitly says gas fuelled BBQs are allowed but also explicitly says wood "fuelled" bbqs are not allowed. Would the wood chips be considered "fuel" in this case even though they're not used to provide the heat?
TIA
Gas Fuelled Meat Smoker on Total Firebans
Comments
Isn't the whole point of a wood smoker to keep the wood below combustion temps?
Rules vary so check with your local council, but in my council the ban is on solid fuel fires so wood, coal, charcoal (webber). Wouldn't the gas fire smoker still be burning (smoulder) wood which would mean it is not permitted.
I would say no not allowed. Although the smoker chips aren't exactly a "fuel", they are still being burnt and may release embers. The plain interpretation of the rules would suggest it's not allowed.
Gas bbqs need you to be near them the entire time when cooking on a fire ban day so under that ruling you would need to be near the smoker the entire time
But call council or fire services in your state and ask for clarification and you can also apply for an exception
I know it's a warm Summer but not every day of the week is a TFB. Can't you just defer your smoking session until the TFB is over? Maybe salt the product for a change.
I wouldn't risk taking a chance.
all good advice, thanks fellas. i agree with that assessment. no smoking on TFB days!
Are you doing it at home?
Yeah just in the backyard in the middle of Suburbia so bushfire risk is nonexistant but will of course follow the rules regardless!
Will be fine then
Honestly posting on OzB is kind of silly as it's decided by RFS, so just give them a call and explain to get their thoughts.
I think you'd be fine but I'm a nobody in the grand scheme of things and it's a $2200 on the spot fine - but if you got a prick of a RFS person technically one could say the smoker is 'burning' wood - and so thats against their rules on those days - so I'd not worry about here and perhas just call them IF you think you might get reported by a neighbour etc.