ERROR 137: Dinner killed by excessive heat

[18:41:02] broil: started garlic-bread (pid 4412) --rack top --heat high
[18:41:05] cook: left kitchen to answer door
[18:42:31] oven: garlic-bread exceeded max_crisp (100%)
[18:42:31] kernel: Out of moisture: Killed process 4412 (garlic-bread)
[18:42:58] smoke-detector: ALERT
ERROR 137: Dinner killed by excessive heat.

Impact

One baguette, total loss. Pasta served without bread. Smoke detector silenced with a dish towel.

Root cause

A broiler works in seconds, not minutes. The cook estimated the trip to the door at one minute. It was a delivery that needed a signature.

Resolution

A second loaf was toasted on the middle rack at 200°C / 400°F for 6 minutes, with a person standing next to it the entire time.

Action items

• Never leave a broiler unattended. Not for the door, not for the phone.
• Use the middle rack for bread unless the goal is char in 90 seconds.
• If you must leave the room, take the timer with you.

# This is a blameless postmortem. The kitchen is a system. Systems fail. Cooks learn.