He 'stoked' the furnace. [=he added more fuel to the furnace to make the fire hotter]
Poor revenue figures have 'stoked' concerns about possible layoffs.
The new ad campaign has helped to 'stoke' sales.
(..) Don't worry. Now, when things quiet down, go out through the back gate. Go all the way down the stairs until you reach the boiler room... where they stoke the fiires. There you'll fiind Kamajii, the boiler man. Kamajii? Tell him you want to work here. Even if he refuses, you must insist. (..)2001 Spirited Away