I dunno it was crazy.

[Wildo]

I dunno it was crazy. I heard a rumble for 2 seconds looked at the cookstove and a good sized puff of smoke came out of the cooktop and chimney areas like a backpuff does then sucked back in and ignited like an explosion in reverse going in an up the flue it charred the fluffy creosote on the damper grates so they cherried.
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Was this a backpuff a split second before the wood I had put in ignited that ignited the backpuff smoke?
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[savageactor7]

gee I never experienced that before but have heard about 'back blasts' on the OWB forum.

With them their stoves mostly smolder and over time they can produce an explosive gas that slowly accumulates but needs the oxygen provided by the open door to reach critical mass.

Without knowing more I'm in agreement with your conclusion that the recently added split produced the smoke and O2 necessary for a small flame to run away wild.

I'd chalk it up as a possible consequence in burning in this mild weather...it's not easy.

 

[begreen]

It's good to adapt one's burning routine to match the outside temps. When it's mild outside, run the fire with more air than usual and don't engage the oven bypass damper as early.

 

[Hills Hoard]

It's good to adapt one's burning routine to match the outside temps. Run the fire with more air than usual and don't engage the bypass damper as early.

this is a topic i clearly need to do some more reading on.