A fire starting strip 10 for igniting a bed of charcoal or for lighting a log fire, without the need for any one or more of: kindling, lighter fluid or newspaper, the fire starting strip 10 comprising an elongate body 12 which is covered or impregnated with fuel, the elongate body 12 having a length substantially in the range of 15 to 100 cm and being substantially at least five times longer than it is wide.