Well, maybe that's not exactly how the song goes but it sure described my condition for a second :rockn: . There's been a couple threads here lately talking about backdraft, puffing, whatever. And I'm really pretty carefull about opening the door but it got me tonight.
I had came home, opened it up and raked the coals around to shake the ash through the grate. Messed around quite a while actually with hardly a spark glowing, everything seemed just about out. So I loaded her up ,shut the door, and flipped the switch back on. The blowers kicked on immediately. I messed around with the wood pile a couple minutes the checked to see if it was going.
Here's where it caught me unaware. I opened the door a little but made sure the safety hooks were still engaged and peeked. Some smoke rolled out and I could see healthy flames working up in the back. Since it was already burning openly I felt safe opening the door more to give it some more air.
With the door wide open now, I felt safe walkiing in front of the door. I was looking straight in and WHOOM! Biggest flashback I have ever encountered and me staring into it eyes wide open :angry2: . I was wearing glasses, hat and sweatshirt with the hood up and that's all that saved me. Didn't lose any hair, just scorch marks on the edge of the hood. And black soot speckles all over my face.
In retrospect, it was really pretty though, seeing that ball of fire from the inside looking out. I remember the world became a pretty purplish rose color with a strange blue tinge or background. Happened too fast to remember exactly, just that it was sure different, pretty and scary all at once.
Never had a blowback when the fire was already going good like that but I will be more careful from now on.
Sorry for the rambling but the adrenaline is still flowing.
I had came home, opened it up and raked the coals around to shake the ash through the grate. Messed around quite a while actually with hardly a spark glowing, everything seemed just about out. So I loaded her up ,shut the door, and flipped the switch back on. The blowers kicked on immediately. I messed around with the wood pile a couple minutes the checked to see if it was going.
Here's where it caught me unaware. I opened the door a little but made sure the safety hooks were still engaged and peeked. Some smoke rolled out and I could see healthy flames working up in the back. Since it was already burning openly I felt safe opening the door more to give it some more air.
With the door wide open now, I felt safe walkiing in front of the door. I was looking straight in and WHOOM! Biggest flashback I have ever encountered and me staring into it eyes wide open :angry2: . I was wearing glasses, hat and sweatshirt with the hood up and that's all that saved me. Didn't lose any hair, just scorch marks on the edge of the hood. And black soot speckles all over my face.
In retrospect, it was really pretty though, seeing that ball of fire from the inside looking out. I remember the world became a pretty purplish rose color with a strange blue tinge or background. Happened too fast to remember exactly, just that it was sure different, pretty and scary all at once.
Never had a blowback when the fire was already going good like that but I will be more careful from now on.
Sorry for the rambling but the adrenaline is still flowing.