Hopper question

[Ctwoodtick]

relatively new to using a pellet stove. I have the Castle serenity stove. From the flame to where the auger spits out pellets into burn pot, it doesn’t seem like there is that much distance. My question is: how often do hopper fires occur and what stops fires from occurring?

 

[Mt Bob]

Slim to none,unless you create a problem to make it happen,like leaving the hopper lid open.Was a problem on certain older stoves,esp. positive pressure stoves.