Cryptic crossword clue
Fire-starter in tree, but I resolved to protect queen 9

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word BRIQUETTE

I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
B
R
I
Q
U
E
T
T
E

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Fire-starter" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case fire-starter = briquette.
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

What does BRIQUETTE mean?

BRIQUETTE noun
  1. A small brick, typically made of charcoal and used for fuel.
  2. A block of artificial stone in the form of a brick, used for paving.
  3. A moulded sample of solidified cement or mortar for use as a test piece for showing the strength of the material.
  4. A cigarette lighter.
BRIQUETTE verb
  1. To form (coal, etc.) into small bricks.

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