Ignition Ignition is the first stage of combustion.
Ignition occurs when enough energy is applied to a fuel.
The energy can come from many places. For example, energy used to ignite the fuel on the tip of a match comes from friction. Friction is produced when a match is dragged across a hard surface. While friction is used to ignite a match, the heat energy from a match can be used to ignite paper, candlewicks, etc. The heat from the energy in lightning can ignite fuel such as trees, grass, and houses.