I knew a smith up in Sky Valley, GA, who had worked on his method of lighting coal, without annoying anyone in the densly crowded town of nature lovers. I can't ask him any more, since cancer did him in. But, I would try two things, one, always prepare a big enough batch of coked coal before you shut down and two, use starter fluid to light a spread-out ball of newspaper. You'd need to use the paper to prevent the fluid from running down the tuyere. Experiment a bit.
Another thing. I had revisited Georgia Coal in Blairsville, since I needed a new batch. The fella buys it in 50 lbs bags by the truckload and heats his cabinet shop with coal. He sells it for $12 per 50 lbs and for $11 if you buy a ton. I have not used the coal and will not recommend it until I find how it 'klinkers' etc. So, give me three weeks to find out.

Dietrich