>Gasoline? Charcoal lighter fluid? Be sure the news media is around when you do this so we can get you registered for the Darwin Awards.<
Uhmmmmmmmm...........Mike, I have to agree with the gasoline (a flammable) thing there as it can be explosive and I'll just bet that it was posted as a joke.
But don't you think that if charcoal lighter fluid (a combustible) wasn't safe to start fires with, that they probably wouldn't sell it for such things after the first couple of barbeques were launched into low orbit?
I've used charcoal fluid, diesel and liquid parafin for starting woodstove fires. It's perfectly safe. Just don't over do it.
Nope, I don't agree that using ANY liquid, fumable hydrocarbon in an enclosed metal box in one's home being a good thing. All are capable of producing more than enough vapor to create an explosive mixture.
Outside, not a big deal, really, if you don't sweat having no eyebrows.
Inside? A much bigger deal.
Yeah, I'll agree that the gasoline comment was probably posted as a joke. What makes you think that my Darwin Award comment wasn't a joke?
Tarus did catch part of what I was getting at, though -- what if things don't get going the first try? Well, I must not have used enough the first time, I don't see any flames, so we're fine, let me just soak everything down... Hey, what's all those white fumes... Ah, a match will clear them out...
Houston, we have a negative on that orbit trajectory.
Tarus, you also miss an important distinction -- sorry...
The vast majority of grills are open topped. The hydrocarbon fumes don't have anywhere to accumulate. I've yet to see an open topped wood stove, though. And even though you might be trying this in a fireplace, you might still have enough fumes lingering in the firebox and up the flue to make one heck of a bang.
But, the most important question is, why would anyone ever consider lighting a fire with a petroleum product and then grill over it, hoping beyond hope that all of the nasty oil fumes have cooked off?
No thanks. Starter chimney and some brown paper bags lightly squirted with cooking oil.