Abstract: A heating appliance control system that includes a pilot flame assembly, a main burner assembly, a gas valve, and a controller. The pilot flame assembly includes a pilot flame burner and at least one pilot flame sensor. The main burner assembly includes a main burner. The gas valve is coupled to the pilot flame and main flame burners. The controller is configured to control the variable gas valve in response to signals received from the pilot and main burner sensors. The controller is also configured to monitor a pilot flame at the pilot flame burner with the pilot flame sensor to confirm the presence of the pilot flame before activating the variable gas valve to supply gas to the main burner.