The "Continuous Fire" Lights Up Scout Spirit!
The Wanchanagi District prepares for its annual “Continuous Fire” Display in honor of Scout Week and the Boy Scouts’ 108th Anniversary.
Located at the Spring Creek United Church of Christ (charter organization for Troop 123) on Spring Creek Rd in Rockford, a regular schedule of Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts will keep the fire tended for the entire week of Feb 3-10. On Wednesday, February 7th the Annual Council Leadership Breakfast at the Mah-Nah-Tee-See Country Club will broadcast a live feed of the Scouts and Scouters tending to the fire.
History of Continuous Fire 2018
Ralph Zitelman was the Scoutmaster responsible for starting the Continuous Fire. As he stepped out of the shower in January 1966 he said, “ I’d really like to do something for Scout Week that is totally different and involves a lot of boys.” Tossing several ideas around with other Scouters and his three sons, he decided to build a fire that would last the whole week. A continuous fire.
Four Troops manned the first fire which started on sunrise Scout Sunday. Scout Sunday is the Sunday starting the week February 8th falls in. Scouting started February 8, 1910. The four troops were 123 - Mt. Olive Church, 425 - Christ United Methodist, 12 - Gloria Dei Lutheran, and 139 - Holy Family Church.
In 1980, the fire became a Mauhnahteesee District event. Troops took 12-hour shifts 6am to 6pm and 6pm to 6am from sunrise Sunday to sunset Saturday. The first fires were held at Mt Olive Lutheran Church then moved to Brookside Medical Center. In 1995 after Mauhnahteesee and Winnebago Districts merged to form Wanchanagi District a central location of Sinnissippi Park north of the gardens near symbol was selected. In 2008, the fire was moved to Harlem United Methodist Church 8401 N Alpine because of flooding.
Ralph organized the fire until he died on December 30, 1990. Bud Dosier, Scoutmaster Troop 206 took over the responsibility until 1995 when Don Reis, Scoutmaster Troop 206 took over. Bill Spivey & Mark Broman, The Wanchanagi District Vice-Chair of Program & District Chair, took the helm in 2017.
This is our 52th year Celebrating 108 years of scouting.
Opening 5pm Saturday, February 3th
Closing 5pm, Saturday, February 10th
Questions call Bill Spivey:
cell 815-243-0671
or
Mark Broman
815-218-5514
