A warning about using citrus peel fire lighters

I often try new things that are eco friendly when working with fires. When living in Malaysia, I sometimes used bark, when camping I will find silver birch bark.

Every year around this time, I see it shared online, that dried citrus peels are fantastic as natural fire lighters. I agree, dried orange peels are great for lighting fires, especially if this means you're swapping from an oil or chemical based fire starter, or handy if you eat citrus fruit anyway. But please heed a warning before diving in…

Orange peel contains limonene, which makes it flammable. Even when thrown on a fire fresh, it will catch alight instantly and burn violently. Dried, they make fantastic firelighters to get things going.

The note of caution comes with how you prepare your orange peels. I have seen it promoted that the best way to get your orange peels dry is to pop them on top of your wood burner, either directly or on a metal rack. This is bad advice, please do not do this.

Many years ago, I learnt the hard way- although in hindsight it seems so obvious- not to dry a firelighter directly on top of the hot metal of your fire. I woke in the night to a smoke filled bedroom, whereby my orange peels on a metal rack on top of my fire, were smoldering from being very dry and on top of a very hot fire. This obviously scared me and I learnt a valuable lesson to dry the peels elsewhere.

So, if you're planning on utilising the free, 'zero waste' citrus peel fire lighter method, please please, dry your peels on your kitchen work top, or try hanging them somewhere warm. Keep them clear of your fire until you're ready to use them.

Good luck with your natural fire lighters, I hope it’s safe.