We report the development of a novel experimental technique that combines video microscopy and thermogravinietric analysis to optimize the detection of coal and char particle ignitions. This technique is particularly effective for detecting ignitions occurring in coal or char samples containing multiple particles, where other commonly used techniques fail. The new approach also allows for visualization of the ignition mechanism. Devolatilized char particles appear to ignite heterogeneously, while coal particles may ignite homogeneously, heterogeneously, or through a combination of both mechanisms.