1 weber fire lighter cube (or any other brand) lit on the fire grate, 2 pieces of rolled up newspaper in bottom of chimney, put chimney on top of fire lighter and this has worked perfect for me every time
The flamers are natural, just wood shavings soaked in a wax. Then the flame produced is what ignites the coal so no direct contact. This is no different to burning paper or hydrocarbon gases etc such as camping stoves.