Use newspaper and a long lighter. Don't get fancy.

Newspaper under the chimney, a long-reach lighter, and patience.

The safest way to light a charcoal chimney is the old-school way: crumple a few sheets of newspaper (or a fire starter cube if you must), stuff them in the bottom chamber, fill the chimney with charcoal, and light the paper from underneath with a long barbecue lighter. Then walk away for 15–20 minutes.

Lighter fluid is where people get hurt. Even “odorless” stuff can flare up unpredictably. And those electric starters work fine, but they’re another cord to trip over. Newspaper and a long lighter keeps your hands far from the heat. The chimney does the rest.

Just make sure the chimney is sitting on a nonflammable surface—concrete, gravel, or a fire ring—and that kids and pets aren’t nearby. Don’t dump the coals until they’re fully ashed over.

Ditch the lighter fluid forever.