Never had a fire in any of mine (3), other that an auger fire that I believe was my fault. That's a story for another time.
I use foil on my drip tray. Makes cleanup easy.
Also put baking soda in the grease trays to absorb the grease. Greatly reduces chances of fire.
Thanks for the tip on Baking Soda. I don't recall a grease fire, but have had some in Auger. Should be no problem of that kind with this pit.
Looks like my timing was lucky. Firemen on way to pick up old, and the new is arriving today also, should have it delivered tomorrow?
OK, OK, you dragged it out of me. I'll tell you how I got the auger fire.
I'm sure you know that the pellets slide down a ramp from the rear located hopper on the Pro and Elite.
Well I was doing a brisket on the Elite and and it was little too far to the back and grease dripped down behind the drip tray onto the ramp.
That caused pellets to stick to the ramp, build up, and catch fire.
Eventually the fire worked it's way up into the hopper.
I was lucky that I was able to clean it out and no damage to the auger.
I keep saying I'm going to put a little plate back there so anything that does drip will be directed onto the drip tray and not the ramp.
Just never gets on my to-do list.