Extreme Drought = Burn Ban = No Smoked Turkey

jmcnutt5

So I am here in Chattanooga, TN and our governor has issued a burn ban. In that burn ban you are not allowed to use a charcoal grill. Gas grill and dryers are ok but no charcoal. There goes my Thanksgiving plans. I would just ignore it, but it is a $2,500 fine if you are caught and we live in a residential neighborhood. 

StillH2OEgger

I would say go ahead because who is going to be out enforcing this on Thanksgiving, but then I saw what the fine could cost you. That would be one expensive turkey. What a bummer. I know which governor I would not be voting for next time around.

HofstraJet

jmcnutt5 said:

So I am here in Chattanooga, TN and our governor has issued a burn ban. In that burn ban you are not allowed to use a charcoal grill. Gas grill and dryers are ok but no charcoal. There goes my Thanksgiving plans. I would just ignore it, but it is a $2,500 fine if you are caught and we live in a residential neighborhood. 

So all of those morons using propane turkey fryers in their garages are in the clear while you can't use your BGE. Yeah...that makes sense.

Slabotnick

Sounds like a hate crime to me.

blasting

Man, that sucks.  I probably don't know enough to comment, but I fail to see a substantial risk from grilling, vs. the amount of people affected by an overprotective ban.

I'd be tempted to fab up a giant sploof. 

In Phx, they have no burn days for fires.  They blame the environment and call it a pollution advisory.  Coincidentally, these days predictably land on New years eve, and the fourth of July.  It's a scam.

Toxarch

I went and asked the local fire chief if I could run a smoker during our severe draught several years back. He said if they got a call about the smoke, and nobody was around the smoker when they showed up, then someone would be getting a ticket.

shtgunal3

It's bad here too. It's been like 55 days or so without rain. 

PirateBill

I'm in Knoxville and I just checked "The Free Times Press" and "The Knoxville News Sentinel" they both said there was a ban but it was only for "open burning of construction/household/camp fires" for 51 counties.

I was going to smoke a turkey on the BGE also but now I am going to cook it over a open pit fire full of tires ... FIGHT THE POWER!!!!

jmcnutt5

Slabotnick said:

Sounds like a hate crime to me.

Don't they realize the turkey isn't going to cook itself???

PirateBill

jmcnutt5 said:

Slabotnick said:

Sounds like a hate crime to me.

Don't they realize the turkey isn't going to cook itself???

We have to cook the turkey, technically it is way worse for your health raw.

Hans61

Much more likely to cause a fire deep frying than using bge - your gov must be dim 

jmcnutt5

PirateBill said:

I'm in Knoxville and I just checked "The Free Times Press" and "The Knoxville News Sentinel" they both said there was a ban but it was only for "open burning of construction/household/camp fires" for 51 counties.

I was going to smoke a turkey on the BGE also but now I am going to cook it over a open pit fire full of tires ... FIGHT THE POWER!!!!

So I did some digging and found exactly what you stated on the state's website: https://www.tn.gov/governor/news/46738

But here is a different article from our local news that seems to take it a step further: http://www.wrcbtv.com/story/33707655/burn-ban-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-region-wide-burn-ban

As @HofstraJet mentioned above, smoking a turkey on the egg is a much smaller risk (if any risk at all) than people using their fryers.  I will make a few calls to our local authorities and see if I can figure something out for sure.  I will let you all know what I find out.

PirateBill

@jmcnutt5 I am not looking at your links as I plan on using the ignorant hillbilly defense when I go to federal prison for my annual thanksgiving tire fire/turkey roast.

GATraveller

jmcnutt5 said:

PirateBill said:

I'm in Knoxville and I just checked "The Free Times Press" and "The Knoxville News Sentinel" they both said there was a ban but it was only for "open burning of construction/household/camp fires" for 51 counties.

I was going to smoke a turkey on the BGE also but now I am going to cook it over a open pit fire full of tires ... FIGHT THE POWER!!!!

So I did some digging and found exactly what you stated on the state's website: https://www.tn.gov/governor/news/46738

But here is a different article from our local news that seems to take it a step further: http://www.wrcbtv.com/story/33707655/burn-ban-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-region-wide-burn-ban

As @HofstraJet mentioned above, smoking a turkey on the egg is a much smaller risk (if any risk at all) than people using their fryers.  I will make a few calls to our local authorities and see if I can figure something out for sure.  I will let you all know what I find out.

I'd cook the turkey and play ignorant if caught.  After all.....you're just going by what the .gov says.

PirateBill

GATraveller said:

I'd cook the turkey and play ignorant if caught.  After all.....you're just going by what the .gov says.

After all if Hillary didn't know what the letter C stood for how are we supposed to figure out all that fed gobbly gook.

SmokeyPitt

Looking at the tn.gov announcement posted above, it only mentions a ban on open flames such as fire pits/camp fires.
https://www.tn.gov/governor/news/46738

This article seems to indicate that charcoal fires are okay:
http://www.wbir.com/news/local/haslam-issues-burn-ban-for-51-counties/351912965

I would send an email using the contact us form and ask if they can clarify the ban and if a kamado cooker would be allowed. 

RedSkip

@SmokeyPitt

SmokeyPitt said:

I would send an email using the contact us form and ask if they can clarify the ban and if a kamado cooker would be allowed. 

I disagree, ask for forgiveness not permission.

jmcnutt5

@SmokeyPitt
I did get in touch with the local fire marshall's office and explained what I wanted to do. The gentleman I spoke with said he was familiar with my type of grill and understood my setup but he legally had to tell me I am not suppose to use a charcoal grill. This tells me they know that it is safe to use, but they are covering their you-know-what. With that said, I believe I am going to smoke it, and if somebody shows up, I will pull up the .gov website and plead my case.  

So long story short, it seems like local municipalities have their own interpretation of the burn ban and everybody affected needs to weigh the risks for themselves. 

@RedSkip
That exact thought went through my mind. I guess I was optimistic that a level headed person would realize how the BGE actually works. 

leemschu

Just do it. No body will say anything and if someone does say they are going to keep a steak on hand to throw on and bribe them!

volminimax

StillH2OEgger said:

I would say go ahead because who is going to be out enforcing this on Thanksgiving, but then I saw what the fine could cost you. That would be one expensive turkey. What a bummer. I know which governor I would not be voting for next time around.

Well this particular governor has reached his term limit, so he won't be running again....

westernbbq

Thanksgiving without smoked turkey is like new years day without bowl games....

volminimax

I've been cooking on my egg all week, now given I am right at the edge of the ban. No one has said anything to me yet about it. Knock on wood.

PirateBill

@jmcnutt5 Proud of you man! FIGHT THE POWER .... and as always GO VOLS!!!!

Skiddymarker

I understand why open fire/charcoal is banned as it is the easiest and safest way to minimize fire risk to a neighbourhood. Considering the drought in some areas,  wildfire is avery real and scary thing, specially when it engulfs homes. 
Although we all think/know we are operating our kamados safely, there is always some yahoo who will start a full chimney of lump and accidentally destroy a whole subdivision. 
Depending on how well you know your neighbours, they will smell smoke and possibly report it, as noted in a post above. Maybe this is the year to rediscover turkey cooked in the big white clock in the kitchen....

Killit_and_Grillit

I saw they already told you what the ban specifically said, the municipals are acting on the side of caution. I lived in Colorado Springs a few years ago before moving back to TN and the state was on a burn ban. Long story short, my neighbor down the street was a volunteer fire fighter (and a class act D bag) and called his station and they sent out a guy and threatened to fine me for grilling. I was on a concrete pad 15 feet from any structure with a water source and a fire extinguisher.

The verdict was they didn't fine me but "strongly urged" me to reconsider my decision since the Governor's order would supersede the municipal decision.

I vote grill. Preferably with running shoes and on your neighbor's side of the property line.

jtcBoynton

Effective immediately, residents in counties covered by the regional ban are not permitted to conduct any open-air burning. The ban includes campfires, and burning of brush, vegetation, household waste or construction debris. So, is the use of a BGE open-air burning? One definition of open-air burning is: “Open Burning” is the burning of any matter under such conditions that products of combustion are emitted directly into the open atmosphere without passing directly through a stack (see TN Rule CHAPTER 1200-3-4 - which may be the applicable rule the Gov is acting under - or maybe not). Keep the top closed when cooking and make sure to use the DFMT or other top.

HofstraJet

As a lawyer, I'd be wary of the language they used. They said "includes" but didn't provide a clear definition of open air burning. Thus, they can say whatever else they want is included in the definition as well.

blasting

If the neighbor's mouths are full of free food, they can't complain

Focker

I see both sides, but I'm with Skiddy here.

We have all seen burnt tables, homes, where peeps thought they knew what they were doing.

And idiots burning down thousands of acres from a campfire that got away from them.  I don't want to be that guy.  And trust me, I play with more fire than most.

When officials enforce these bans, it's for good reason.  

And plus, turkey is the white brisket.  A good excuse to do something nontraditional. 

bgebrent

C'mon. The risk is negligible for a closed cook. Granted, not zero, but close. Depends on your comfort level and how well you know your neighbors. 

HeavyG

Focker said:

I see both sides, but I'm with Skiddy here.

We have all seen burnt tables, homes, where peeps thought they knew what they were doing.

And idiots burning down thousands of acres from a campfire that got away from them.  I don't want to be that guy.  And trust me, I play with more fire than most.

When officials enforce these bans, it's for good reason.  

And plus, turkey is the white brisket.  A good excuse to do something nontraditional. 

I agree completely that it's a bummer when these sort of restrictions occur and it's not really just because the tyrannical government wants to tread on ones rights when they are put into place. Blaming a governor for this kind of thing is idiotic.

It would be one thing if everyone that was lighting up a grill was always going to be attentive and responsible before/during/after the cook and the fire was positively extinguished.

Reality tho is that there are too many idjits out there that aren't attentive/careful/sober and all it takes is one errant spark from  lighting your <insert your least favorite brand of sparky lump here> lump with your weed burner - **FWOOOOF**