Question about my Whitifield Profile 20 -- Ash Slide

I have a Whitfield Profile 20. Purchased and installed in August 2001.

I was glancing through the owners manual (manual dated 1/2002) the other day.....
I noticed it says that:
"ash that accumulates around the grate can be 'dropped' into the ash pan without opening the firebox door. Simply pull open the ash release slide plate as shown in photo using the grate scraper tool provided."

This surprised me cause I have always let the stove cool down before opening the firebox door to drop the ash into the ash pan....
In fact, I don't see how it would be possible to pull open the ash slide with the door closed....

Am I missing something here???

mike

Funny thing is not only is the ash slide release mentioned in the manual but it is also mentioned on the Profile brochure....the color brochure has a cut away diagram of the stove and some with some arrows pointing to the technology of the stove...

I scanned in a picture below of the back of the Profile brochure from when the stove was purchased (by the previous homeowner).
On the right hand side of the picture is where it shows the ash release open with the door closed.

BUT as I write this I just read the small print on the picture......under the stove picture it says to refer to stove owner's manual for specific stove features....

Not that it changes anything......ya still cant open the ash release with the door closed.

oh well.

thanks for replying.

mike