Introduction: Three decades ago I started a journey that ultimately resulted in my becoming a Firecrafter in what was then known as the Central Indiana Council at Ransburg Scout Reservation. Nearly eighty years ago my uncle had followed the same path to become the first Firecrafter to be accorded the rank of Minisino in 1920. This was a special experience and as a result I kept a lot of things from those days long ago almost as though there was a sense that it would be important to have them later on. Well that "later on" arrived with the Internet. When the first Scouting web pages began to appear, I put up a single page to talk about Firecrafter. It wasn't very much, but enough to draw a good deal of encouragement from visitors and brother Firecrafters. Many shared ideas and suggested what ought to be on the web. This website and the history links from this page are a result of those ideas.

The history that you'll find in the pages listed below is an adaptation of theHistory of Firecrafter, which every Firecrafter candidate must read. (See, Firecrafter Requirements.) I have added new source material and images where more information was available. Firecrafter candidates should read the verbatim History of Firecrafter which is available for viewing at on the history pages of the Setting Sun Ember website.

Although the Boy Scouts of America does not condone or authorize secret rituals, the ceremonies of organizations like the Order of the Arrow and Firecrafter are afforded a degree of privacy to enhance their dramatic effect. Honoring that tradition, I have tried my best to assure that none of the information provided here would infringe on matters considered private to Firecrafter.