I didn't think that there was any danger of fire as I had firebrick on top the grates.
I put $140 of meat on the grill and changed my clothes. Thank goodness I didn't dawdle. Coming downstairs and looking out the door I could see flames rolling out the back. Calls for help from the men folk went unanswered. I checked the garage. Nothing. Called out the front door. Nothing. I think that they migrated from one space to the other--each time out of earshot.
I turned off the gas, rolled the grill away from the house. Looked frantically for my kosher salt. Didn't find it. Did find about 2.5 lbs left of my 5 lb baking soda bag in the laundry room. After grabbing a mitt and flinging the grill top up to have flames charge out, I flung scoops of baking soda over my charring roasts. The fire quickly abated.
The meat was in minutes of being ruined. Dust off baking soda. Into the oven. But I was definitely shaken. Our 6 p.m. dinner was about an 1.5 hours later. We had wine, beer, appetizers and good company. Plus it gave my daughter more time to spend at her in-laws. I watched degree by degree from 50 to 125 for the roast Dinner was later than planned, but delicious.
I have a fire extinguisher, but I didn't get my hands on it. I need to recharge my baking soda supply. It dispatches a fire quickly.
That's my Christmas safety message: Have a 5lb bag of baking soda handy at all times. Good for a chimney fire too.
Had I not had that soda, I'm not really sure what would have happened. Nothing good--at least for the meat. House was safe. Had the meat burned up, we would have still been fine. It would have been installment 2 of failed main meat dishes--the first being when I stuffed my refrigerator too full and temp did not maintain during a Thanksgiving foraging mission. When I opened the fresh turkey, it smelled like it had been baking on a pavement for several days.
There was ham at least, not from Mark's lack of effort to finding a fresh bird on T-G day. None to be had. I have a bit more perspective than he does at time. One side-dish (among our many) is more than many have to share for a dinner. I try not not to lose sight of our many blessings.
Tis the season to be mindful of ours and share generously with others.
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