Jennifer, My credentials first. This is my 69th year of beekeeping, with apiaries having never less than 50 colonies and up to 135 colonies. I kept Italians for the first 15 years, and then switched to Carniolans 53 years ago. You should NEVER remove an inner cover without a lighted smoker close by! Note, I did not say "using it", but said "Lighted and close by" You never know when you are going to need it, and in an emergency, a minute delay while you are trying to light it might mean a disaster. I often work my Carnies without smoke, and even without a veil, BUT NEVER without a lighted smoker at arm's length. Most people just don't seem to know how to PACK a smoker to keep it lit. Burlap is an excellent fuel, one of my favorites, but it must be PACKED to stay lit, and to get a nice COOL, white smoke. You don't want a blue smoke or flame. The way to pack a smoker, is light a small piece, drop it in the smoker, and blow it good and hard until you really have a good fire going, then drop in a larger piece, blow on it until it starts to burn, then another larger piece and start packing down a little as you blow a little, then a much larger piece, blow a little and pack it down, and finally fill the smoker, and pack it down. This should last 1-2 hours. If you have dried pine needles in Oregon, they are the Number 1 smoker fuel in my opinion: very easy to light, packs easily, and gives a COOL white smoke. I hope I have helped. George Imirie EAS Certified Master Beekeeper