Grocery store fire shopping isn’t the first phrase that comes to mind when gathering fire-making supplies. Yet the grocery store is packed with manufactured tinder and fire accelerants—items designed for convenience but perfect for survival.
Hardly the place most people think of when stocking a kit, these aisles hold more than food. Some products are ready for the pack, glove box, or camp bag. Others can be cut down, sealed in Ziplocks, and carried with ease. The possibilities are endless, proving that fire-starting gear is closer than you think.
Shopping for Fire-Making Supplies at the Grocery Store
Duraflame Inc.
Duraflame, Inc. is one of America’s leading firelog and fire‑starter manufacturers, with more than 50 years of experience in the fireplace fuel industry. The company was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Henderson, Nevada. Over the decades, Duraflame has expanded its product line beyond firelogs to include firestarters, grilling fuels, charcoal, and barbecue wood products under several brand names, including Duraflame®, Cowboy® Charcoal, Western®, and B&B Charcoal™.
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Duraflame products are manufactured and distributed in the United States, with corporate offices at 2879 Saint Rose Parkway, Henderson, Nevada. The company employs nearly 500 people and generates annual revenues of over $150 million. Its reputation as the market leader in firelogs comes from consistent innovation and a focus on convenience, safety, and sustainability in fire‑starting solutions.
Duraflame Firestart
Designed for fireplaces and campgrounds, these individually wrapped blocks burn for up to thirty minutes. The sustained flame makes them ideal for larger wood loads or damp conditions. They’re easy to carry, light quickly, and work indoors or outdoors.
To use, place the block under your wood and light the wrapper. The firelighter will burn long enough to dry and ignite stubborn logs. Cut sections for smaller kits, keep one in a dry bag for emergencies, or use as a base flame under damp wood in camp.
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Duraflame Fatwood
Duraflame Fatwood comes from resin‑rich pine heartwood, harvested from non‑endangered stumps. It lights fast, even when damp, and burns hot with minimal smoke. For survivalists, the benefit is reliability—no chemicals, no fuss, just natural ignition.
To use, place a stick under your kindling and touch it with a match or lighter. The resin catches quickly, producing a strong flame. Split sticks into smaller pieces for pocket kits, shave curls for tinder bundles, or stash a few in a Ziploc bag for the glove box or pack. Fatwood is the most common survival and bushcrafter grocery store fire shopping item.
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Firestart Cubes
These cubes are compact, water‑resistant, and burn for about ten minutes with tall flames. The long burn time gives kindling a chance to catch, while the wrapper itself lights cleanly. They’re easy to handle, with no mess or odor.
To ignite, simply light the wrapper—no need to unwrap. Break cubes in half for ultralight kits, use them as backup ignition in wet conditions, or toss one into a charcoal grill or campfire ring for quick starts.
Matches
Matches remain the global ignition standard—lightweight, compact, and disposable. They are also the easiest grocery store fire shopping items to buy, just about anywhere. Billions of people worldwide still rely on them daily to spark cook fires and warm homes.
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In developing countries, matches are essential tools, igniting blazes that sustain families. More than 2.6 to 3 billion people rely on open fires or inefficient stoves for cooking and heating, often lit with matches. Matches and lighters together account for about 9% of ignition sources in fire studies, underscoring their continued role worldwide.
For survivalists, the benefit is universality: no batteries, no moving parts, just fire on demand.
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To use, strike against the box or striker strip and shield the flame from wind. Waterproof them with wax or nail polish, bundle them in straws or pill bottles, or carry strike‑anywhere matches for versatility. Simple, reliable, and globally proven, matches remain one of the most practical fire‑starting tools you can carry.
Grocery Store Fire Shopping
Make fire simple again. Whatever you get, practice with it before relying on it. Your life just may depend on it!
