To provide a gel-like hydrocarbon fuel compsn. which, when burned, provides stable and safe flame irrespective of the shape of a material to be ignited.

This compsn. contains a liq. hydrocarbon fuel and silica, the sum of the amts. of them contained being at least 80 mass % and the wt. ratio being (80/20)-(99/1). The liq. hydrocarbon fuel, i.e., a hydrocarbon fuel which is liq. in a combustible state, usually has a b.p. in the range of 30-700°C, pref. 40-600°C. Various liq. hydrocarbon fuels can be used, for example, ones derived from petroleum, waste, oil shale, oil sand, coal, and biomass. The silica used here is a high-purity silica having an SiO2 content of 95 mass % or higher, pref. 98 mass % or higher, still pref. 99 mass % or higher, and contaminants contained therein may be any of Al2O3, Fe2O3, TiO2, etc.