Light the chimney with newspaper underneath, not lighter fluid.

Fill the chimney with charcoal, stuff a couple crumpled sheets of newspaper in the bottom chamber, and light the paper from below. Let it burn for 15-20 minutes until the top coals are glowing and ashed over, then pour them into the grill.

Using lighter fluid defeats the purpose of a chimney. The whole point is no chemical taste on your food, no dangerous flare-ups when you splash fluid on hot coals, and no accidentally torching your arm. Newspaper burns clean and fast — any junk burns off before the coals are ready.

Few safety notes: Set the chimney on a non-flammable surface (the grill grate works, or concrete — not a wooden deck). Use a long-reach lighter or a long match. Keep kids and pets back. The chimney gets hot as hell on the outside, so handle with tongs or a gloved hand. Dump carefully into the grill, not all over your shoes.

That’s it. No lighter fluid, no electric starters, no pyramid of coals like a cave man. Newspaper. Chimney. Patience.