Paranoid on Tube Amp Install

Think of it this way. You have been stuck by lightning once. What are the odds it will happen again? Most gear, tube amps included, don't catch on fire. Obviously they can as you well know, but in my 30 years in this hobby (including some real hack mods in the 80's), I have never had a piece catch on fire. Don't get me wrong, there was plenty of smoke a couple of times, but never fire. Bias it up outside of your system and let it run in for an hour before you risk you speakers.

Bias it up outside of your system and let it run in for an hour before you risk you speakers.
4est (Threads | Answers)

All tube amps I am familiar with should never be powered up without a load connected (ie speakers).

And might want to get you a long-handled broomstick to push the power button on. Wood, preferrably.

Speakers cannot cause any amp to catch fire. I've been in the amp business in one form or another (worked in serveal service centers and then in manufacturing) for 37 years. So far I have yet to see an amplifier catch fire, tube or solid state. That's... rare.

Rhljazz,
There are very few tube amps that cannot be on w/o a load and no signal. Maybe I am weird, but I have always turned on my tubes amps unconnected initially to check bias.

In either event, the speakers weren't the problem, and tube amps don't generally start on fire. Here's hoping you have a better experience with tubes. I rather like them...