So, I invite a couple of friends over for a cookout.

They arrive and I'm getting everything ready. I start explaining to them how I have a unique grilling technique. I have an old gas grill (one with lava rocks) but I also use green hickory wood chips, directly on the lava rocks. That way, I get the convenience of gas with the heavy smoke flavor of wood or charcoal cooking. I went on to explain how the major problem is that the ash clogs up the grill and how it's a big hassle to keep clean.

Anyway, I get the grill hot, put on the hickory chips and get it smoking really well, then toss on the steaks. I'm on cruise control so I go back inside, sit down and start chit-chatting.

One of my friends gets up and says he's going to check out my grill setup. A couple of minutes later he comes back and sits down. He looks over at me and says, "That's an interesting grill setup you have there. I've really never seen anything like it". He said, "What's up with the big fire in the bucket you have underneath the grill? Is that charcoal?"

I'm like, "Fire in a bucket?"....OMG!

I ran out to the grill and sure enough. I had left an old trash can right under the grill, which had been filled with all kinds of stuff during the last cookout. The embers had fallen in and there was a huge fire raging underneath the grill, with flames licking the underneath.

I grabbed a rag and drug the flaming can into the yard. By then, everyone was outside to watch me spaz out. My buddy came over laughing and said, "I thought there was something odd about that grill setup".

Turns out the fire was very close to the propane tank. I'm glad he went outside to check it out.

I don't find it that funny, more a bit scary.
But Glad to know everything worked out for you

LOL. I don't think you want your steaks competing with NASA for best projectile/atmospheric escape sequences.

Aside from me leaving the can there to catch fire, which was kinda funny, the really funny thing was that my buddy looked right at it and assumed it was some kind of new grilling technique I had devised.

Maybe you had to have been there.

Thank God nothing happened to you Tux; jeeze man. Hate to admit this, but I've not bbq'ed since my Mom passed away in 2006. Maybe I might try again when Summer get's here (or just go the the local BBQ and enjoy the food; depends on how much I'm willing to splurge; lol).

Geeze, GnuTux, you guys could have been blown to kingdom come. I'm so relieved you are safe.

it is a funny story, now that it has a happy ending...but yeah, you almost had overdone steaks and house.

Scary, yes, but when I envision it it's funny too. It's dismal, dark, unnaturally cold here and the thought brought some warmth. Thanks.

Okay, now that you say that, it is much funny!
I just didn't catch that right away

Pretty funny actually.

You guys almost became the barbecue though. Glad that everyone is safe though.

I have one question!
How did the steaks taste?

(Theme music to 2001 Space Odyssey starts playing)



LOL!