How did Sai Baba get fire to light his pipe for Chand Patil? Was it a miracle?

Yes, it was a miraculous event. After helping Chand Patil find his lost mare, the Fakir (Baba) invited him to smoke. As told in Chapter 5 of the Shri Sai Satcharitra, to light the chillum, Baba did not use any conventional means. Instead, he picked up a pair of tongs, or 'chimta', and thrust them directly into the earth right where he sat. He then pulled out a glowing ember from the ground and placed it on the chillum. This act, following the miraculous recovery of the mare, further convinced Chand Patil that he was in the presence of a divine being.