diff --git a/Common/include/CConfig.hpp b/Common/include/CConfig.hpp
index bbb2cf12bf8..3e77b326661 100644
--- a/Common/include/CConfig.hpp
+++ b/Common/include/CConfig.hpp
@@ -1292,6 +1292,7 @@ class CConfig {
   bool Species_StrongBC;           /*!< \brief Boolean whether strong BC's are used for in- outlet of the species solver. */
   su2double* Species_Init;         /*!< \brief Initial uniform value for scalar transport. */
   unsigned short nSpecies_Init;    /*!< \brief Number of entries of SPECIES_INIT */
+  su2double Flame_T_ignition;    /*!< \brief Ignition temperature for the flame, used for initialization. */
 
   /*--- Additional flamelet solver options ---*/
   FluidFlamelet_ParsedOptions flamelet_ParsedOptions; /*!< \brief Additional flamelet solver options */
@@ -2252,6 +2253,12 @@ class CConfig {
    */
   const su2double* GetSpecies_Init() const { return Species_Init; }
 
+  /*!
+   * \brief Get the ignition temperature for the flame.
+   * \return Ignition temperature for the flame.
+   */
+  su2double GetFlame_T_ignition() const { return Flame_T_ignition; }
+
   /*!
    * \brief Get the flag for using strong BC's for in- and outlets in the species solver.
    * \return Flag for strong BC's.
diff --git a/Common/src/CConfig.cpp b/Common/src/CConfig.cpp
index 2ba453b197b..4f88fba4b60 100644
--- a/Common/src/CConfig.cpp
+++ b/Common/src/CConfig.cpp
@@ -1419,6 +1419,9 @@ void CConfig::SetConfig_Options() {
   /*!\brief SPARK_REACTION_RATES \n DESCRIPTION: Net source term values applied to species within spark area during spark ignition. \ingroup Config*/
   addDoubleListOption("SPARK_REACTION_RATES", flamelet_ParsedOptions.nspark, flamelet_ParsedOptions.spark_reaction_rates);
 
+  /*!\brief FLAME_INIT_IGNITION \n DESCRIPTION: Ignition temperature for the flame initialization \ingroup Config*/
+  addDoubleOption("FLAME_INIT_IGNITION", Flame_T_ignition, 5000.0);
+
   /*--- Options related to mass diffusivity and thereby the species solver. ---*/
 
   /*!\brief DIFFUSIVITY_MODEL\n DESCRIPTION: mass diffusivity model \n DEFAULT constant disffusivity \ingroup Config*/
@@ -5700,6 +5703,22 @@ void CConfig::SetPostprocessing(SU2_COMPONENT val_software, unsigned short val_i
       SU2_MPI::Error("Number of initial species incompatible with number of controlling variables and user scalars.", CURRENT_FUNCTION);
     /*--- We can have additional user defined transported scalars ---*/
     flamelet_ParsedOptions.n_scalars = flamelet_ParsedOptions.n_control_vars + flamelet_ParsedOptions.n_user_scalars;
+
+    /*--- Check that spark ignition has required parameters defined ---*/
+    if (flamelet_ParsedOptions.ignition_method == FLAMELET_INIT_TYPE::SPARK) {
+      /*--- Check if SPARK_INIT was explicitly set in config file ---*/
+      if (all_options.find("SPARK_INIT") != all_options.end()) {
+        SU2_MPI::Error("FLAME_INIT_METHOD= SPARK requires SPARK_INIT to be defined in the config file.", CURRENT_FUNCTION);
+      }
+      /*--- Check if SPARK_REACTION_RATES was explicitly set in config file ---*/
+      if (all_options.find("SPARK_REACTION_RATES") != all_options.end()) {
+        SU2_MPI::Error("FLAME_INIT_METHOD= SPARK requires SPARK_REACTION_RATES to be defined in the config file.", CURRENT_FUNCTION);
+      }
+      if (flamelet_ParsedOptions.nspark < flamelet_ParsedOptions.n_scalars) {
+        SU2_MPI::Error("SPARK_REACTION_RATES must have at least " + to_string(flamelet_ParsedOptions.n_scalars) +
+                       " values (one for each scalar variable), but only " + to_string(flamelet_ParsedOptions.nspark) + " were provided.", CURRENT_FUNCTION);
+      }
+    }
   }
 
   if (Kind_Regime == ENUM_REGIME::COMPRESSIBLE && GetBounded_Scalar()) {
diff --git a/SU2_CFD/include/solvers/CSpeciesFlameletSolver.hpp b/SU2_CFD/include/solvers/CSpeciesFlameletSolver.hpp
index df61813a3e2..5801cd6d8e3 100644
--- a/SU2_CFD/include/solvers/CSpeciesFlameletSolver.hpp
+++ b/SU2_CFD/include/solvers/CSpeciesFlameletSolver.hpp
@@ -70,9 +70,10 @@ class CSpeciesFlameletSolver final : public CSpeciesSolver {
    * \brief Find maximum progress variable value within the manifold for the current solution.
    * \param[in] fluid_model - pointer to flamelet fluid model.
    * \param[in] scalars - local scalar solution.
+   * \param[in] T_ignition - ignition temperature - at this temperature, the progress variable is considered burnt.
    * \return - maximum progress variable value within manifold bounds.
    */
-  su2double GetBurntProgressVariable(CFluidModel* fluid_model, const su2double* scalars);
+  su2double GetBurntProgressVariable(CFluidModel* fluid_model, const su2double* scalars, const su2double T_ignition);
 
   /*!
    * \brief Retrieve scalar source terms from manifold.
diff --git a/SU2_CFD/src/solvers/CSpeciesFlameletSolver.cpp b/SU2_CFD/src/solvers/CSpeciesFlameletSolver.cpp
index de8d5e61853..fa82f5dc687 100644
--- a/SU2_CFD/src/solvers/CSpeciesFlameletSolver.cpp
+++ b/SU2_CFD/src/solvers/CSpeciesFlameletSolver.cpp
@@ -104,8 +104,11 @@ void CSpeciesFlameletSolver::Preprocessing(CGeometry* geometry, CSolver** solver
                 spark_radius = flamelet_config_options.spark_init[3];
       dist_from_center = GeometryToolbox::SquaredDistance(nDim, geometry->nodes->GetCoord(i_point), flamelet_config_options.spark_init.data());
       if (dist_from_center < pow(spark_radius,2)) {
-        for (auto iVar = 0u; iVar < nVar; iVar++)
-          nodes->SetScalarSource(i_point, iVar, nodes->GetScalarSources(i_point)[iVar] + flamelet_config_options.spark_reaction_rates[iVar]);
+        /*--- Add spark reaction rates to the sources that were just set by SetScalarSources ---*/
+        const su2double* current_sources = nodes->GetScalarSources(i_point);
+        for (auto iVar = 0u; iVar < nVar; iVar++) {
+          nodes->SetScalarSource(i_point, iVar, current_sources[iVar] + flamelet_config_options.spark_reaction_rates[iVar]);
+        }
       }
     }
 
@@ -184,7 +187,7 @@ void CSpeciesFlameletSolver::SetInitialCondition(CGeometry** geometry, CSolver**
     su2double enth_inlet = config->GetSpecies_Init()[I_ENTH];
 
     su2double prog_burnt = 0, prog_unburnt, point_loc;
-    su2double scalar_init[MAXNVAR];
+    su2double scalar_init[MAXNVAR]= {0.0};
 
     if (rank == MASTER_NODE) {
       cout << "initial condition: T = " << temp_inlet << endl;
@@ -197,10 +200,11 @@ void CSpeciesFlameletSolver::SetInitialCondition(CGeometry** geometry, CSolver**
           cout << "Ignition with a straight flame front" << endl;
           break;
         case FLAMELET_INIT_TYPE::SPARK:
-          cout << "Ignition with an artificial spark" << endl;
+          cout << "Ignition with an artificial spark at iteration "<< flamelet_config_options.spark_init[4]
+               << " for a duration of " << flamelet_config_options.spark_init[5] << " iterations." << endl;
           break;
         case FLAMELET_INIT_TYPE::NONE:
-          cout << "No solution ignition (cold flow)" << endl;
+          cout << "No solution ignition (cold flow or restart)" << endl;
           break;
         default:
           break;
@@ -216,7 +220,6 @@ void CSpeciesFlameletSolver::SetInitialCondition(CGeometry** geometry, CSolver**
 
     for (unsigned long i_mesh = 0; i_mesh <= config->GetnMGLevels(); i_mesh++) {
       fluid_model_local = solver_container[i_mesh][FLOW_SOL]->GetFluidModel();
-      if (flame_front_ignition) prog_burnt = GetBurntProgressVariable(fluid_model_local, scalar_init);
 
       for (auto iVar = 0u; iVar < nVar; iVar++) scalar_init[iVar] = config->GetSpecies_Init()[iVar];
 
@@ -224,6 +227,8 @@ void CSpeciesFlameletSolver::SetInitialCondition(CGeometry** geometry, CSolver**
       n_not_iterated_local += GetEnthFromTemp(fluid_model_local, temp_inlet, config->GetSpecies_Init(), &enth_inlet);
       scalar_init[I_ENTH] = enth_inlet;
 
+      if (flame_front_ignition) prog_burnt = GetBurntProgressVariable(fluid_model_local, scalar_init, config->GetSpecies_T_ignition());
+
       prog_unburnt = config->GetSpecies_Init()[I_PROGVAR];
       SU2_OMP_FOR_STAT(omp_chunk_size)
       for (unsigned long i_point = 0; i_point < nPoint; i_point++) {
@@ -805,16 +810,23 @@ unsigned long CSpeciesFlameletSolver::GetEnthFromTemp(CFluidModel* fluid_model,
   return exit_code;
 }
 
+su2double CSpeciesFlameletSolver::GetBurntProgressVariable(CFluidModel* fluid_model, const su2double* scalar_solution, const su2double T_ignition) {
 su2double CSpeciesFlameletSolver::GetBurntProgressVariable(CFluidModel* fluid_model, const su2double* scalar_solution) {
   SU2_ZONE_SCOPED
   su2double scalars[MAXNVAR], delta = 1e-3;
   for (auto iVar = 0u; iVar < nVar; iVar++) scalars[iVar] = scalar_solution[iVar];
   bool outside = false;
+  scalars[I_PROGVAR] += delta;
   while (!outside) {
-    fluid_model->SetTDState_T(300, scalars);
-    if (fluid_model->GetExtrapolation() == 1 || (fluid_model->GetTemperature()>1000.)) outside = true;
+    /*--- Note that 300.0 is a dummy temperature here and not used. ---*/
+    fluid_model->SetTDState_T(300.0, scalars);
+    if ((fluid_model->GetExtrapolation() == 1) || fluid_model->GetTemperature() > T_ignition) outside = true;
     scalars[I_PROGVAR] += delta;
   }
   su2double pv_burnt = scalars[I_PROGVAR] - delta;
+  if (rank == MASTER_NODE) {
+    cout << "Burnt progress variable determined from flamelet table: " << pv_burnt << endl;
+    cout << "Burnt temperature from flamelet table: " << fluid_model->GetTemperature() << endl;
+  }
   return pv_burnt;
 }