Great tip, Ed!
With my #1, I never had any kind of combustion (it had a 350 w element, so it didn't get hot enough to light the wood on fire). When I started using the test bed #2, I experienced what a 700 watt element could do to a chunk of wood!
Initially, my solution was to "ramp up" the temp slowly. While this worked, it made the cook more complex than it needed to be. I have used the foil boat method several times, with no problems. I'm a foil boat believer!
I guess it adds "just enough" insulation for the bottom of the wood to prevent it from catching on fire.
Also, for new folks: Resist the urge to open that door during smoking! These smokers have a very controlled environment. Air is drawn in through the small hole in the bottom of the smoker, and the big hole in the top is the vent. This setup controls the amount of "fuel" that gets to the smoldering wood. When you open the door, you introduce a big blast of fuel, and the wood will likely start to ignite. Keep the door closed!