Make a fire – the friendly way

Photo: Jackie Rybeck

FIAH STARTER – Beth Ugosoli with her adorable little friend, stay warm near a fire, made mess-free with FIAH Fire Starters. The starters are easy to use, and are safe for children, animals and the earth.

HARRISON – If you live in Maine you know that winter can be pretty brutal … especially when it’s below zero.

With the price of oil and propane on the rise, a fire can be an inexpensive way to warm your toes and heart, but who likes the mess of paper, kindling and, of course, the frustration when the fire fails to start.

Two years ago, Beth and Peter Ugosoli of Harrison had enough and decided to do something about it.

“It was frustrating using newsprint,” she explained. “It made our hands dirty and smelly and we were always running out of kindling. My husband, Peter and I decided there had to be a better alternative.”

So the couple headed to the kitchen to come up with the perfect recipe for a paper-and-kindling-free fire starter.

“The formula was not an easy task,” said Beth. “After months of testing special ingredients, specific portions and mold sizes, the final results were exactly what we had hoped for; a truly unique, practical, socially responsible and environmentally-sensitive green product to start a fire.”

FIAH Fire Starters are handmade, molded discs, made of American soy wax, Maine green-certified wood and a few secret ingredients. And the couple has gone from gift-giving to selling their unique product throughout the New England states.

“Being passionate about the environment allowed us to focus on ingredients,” she said. “They are non toxic, biodegradable and safe for woodstoves. That’s one of the main reasons it’s taken off.”

“They are also lightweight, safe around children and pets, leave no residue and are scent free, she added.”

Fire Starters light with one match and will have an eight-inch flame that will burn for 15 to 20 minutes and is safe to use in any woodstove or fireplace.

“You can have a roaring, crackling fire in less than one minute!” Beth exclaimed. “And we aren’t just talking fires in your home. The starters are great anywhere you need a fire: camping, snowmobiling, ice fishing, outdoor fireplaces and backpacking to name a few.”

“Throw away dangerous, lighter fluids,” she added. “Fire Starters can even be used with charcoal fires; no lighter fluid means no chemical taste in the food.”

According to Ugosoli, men love the Fire Starters even more than the women do.

“Of course,” she laughed. “Men know that their women can make a fire easily and cleanly whether they are home or not.”

Although mostly wholesale, Beth does sell FIAH Fire Starters in bulk and at local, holiday fairs to support her community.

“FIAH” starters are available in select Hannaford’s; Reny’s statewide, during camping season; Bridgton’s Food City, Corn Shop, Hayes True Value and Paris Farmer’s Union; and in Norway they can be found at Longley’s.

“Fire Starters are the best way to be warm,” smiled Beth, “and do our part, no matter how small at preserving this wonderful earth.”

You can check out their website at fiahstarter.com or by calling her at 583-6584.