PURPOSE: To control combustion operation correctly, by a method wherein a motor is driven by the program of a micro-computer, the elevation, ignition and extinguishing of the flame of a wick is controlled by the opening and closing of cam switches A, B while a position capable of effecting automatic igniting operation is held by a reset switch.

CONSTITUTION: When an ignition switch 3 is turned ON, a motor 8 is driven through a micro-computer 1 to elevate a wick by the ON operation of a cam switch B6 while the cam switch A5 is turned ON by the rotation of the motor 8, immediately thereafter, the motor is stopped and the wick is ignited by a heater 11. After ignition, the motor 8 is driven again to elevate the wick to the optimum burning position while the motor is stopped by the OFF operation of the cam switch B6 and the condition is held. When a fire shut-off switch 4 is turned ON, the motor 8 is driven again to lower the wick until the cam switch A5 is turned OFF whereby the combustion of the wick is stopped. When the shortage of a power supply voltage is noticed and a battery 2 is replaced, a reset switch 13 is turned ON to drive the motor 8 again and lower the wick to a position capable of effecting automatic igniting operation. The operation of combustion can be controlled correctly in such a manner.