Seems the company made FIVE different versions of the same model of heater which explains why I couldn't find anything resembling what I was looking at earlier. Once I determined which sub model this one was, I was able to search & finally found a user's manual that someone had uploaded. Whew. That explained a lot.

It's supposed to use batteries & I finally found where they go BUT that whole area is corroded & rusted out. The connections simply no longer exist.

Next step. The manual included instructions on how to light with a match but the guard cage over the unit wouldn't let me access the hatch where the lever & wick were located. I used an old butter knife to jam the hatch door open against the cage but still couldn't reach the lever until I got an old spoon & reached it thru the cage to raise the wick. After that, shoving a lighter thru to fire it up was a piece of cake!

That'll enable me to keep the basement warm enough to keep the pipes (and me) from freezing. Now I'm gonna go see if I can scavenge a hose fitting off my big Camp Chef stove on the deck to hook my Buddy Heater up to a grill tank to make the upstairs a bit more comfortable..... Fingers crossed!!!!

If not, when I run out of little tanks, I found a few old clay pots that I can use with candles to provide a little radient heat warmth.

At this point, the freezers are on their own. I can't start the generator & there are none to be found. Two of them are crammed pretty much full so unless we're out for more than 4 or 5 days, they should be fine.

Tomorrow afternoon, I'll start pinning blankets/fleece throws up across all the N, E, and W windows for a little added insulation during the coming week.....

AND.... I found a guy with good references who's willing to come shovel my drive out as soon as the roads are passable. He's not cheap but most who do that won't come outside of city limits so I'll be more than happy to write him a check!