Abstract: This is a starter for starting fires comprising a block of sawdust impregnated with paraffine and having a wick extending therethrough which block is made by filling a mold with sawdust, pouring liquid paraffine into said mold onto and throughout said sawdust, compressing said mixture of sawdust and paraffine, removing excess paraffine therefrom, forming an opening through the compressed mixture, inserting a wick therethrough, and subsequently igniting the wick, resulting in the compressed sawdust and paraffine mixture burning throughout its thickness from the area around the wick outwardly to its perimeter.