1-800-422-5647 | Chicago: 773-862-8200 | Milwaukee: 414-281-4203 
Four Generations of Rasmussen family members have proudly designed and produced innovative products in Whittier, California.
It was 1907 when Rasmus Rasmussen, a Danish immigrant, opened his blacksmith shop on Philadelphia St. in Whittier, CA. In addition to more traditional blacksmith services, Rasmus quickly developed a sideline business making fancy fireplace tools and screens.
Through the decades the business evolved and changed, Rasmussen Iron Works made everything from truck body parts, to steel buildings, to welding rod handles used to build ships for WWII. After the war, Rasmus’ son, Ted Sr., opened a fireplace retail store in front of the manufacturing shop. Among the items he carried were gas logs.
It would be Ted Sr.’s son T.R. that would make a breakthrough in gas logs in 1958. After seeing a plumber trying to bubble natural gas through water to create a “dancing flame” effect for a restaurant’s waiting area, T.R. developed the sand pan burner, which is still sold today and still provides the most realistic wood flame available in a gas log set.
When he couldn’t find a manufacturer to make logs for him, T.R. developed his own molding technique, using real wood logs as patterns and capable of reproducing the smallest bark detail in the finest refractory materials available. Over the years, T.R. would create many styles of log sets, including oak, split, char, birch, manzanita, driftwood stumps, eucalyptus, and pine cones, as well as geometric shapes.
There is now a fourth generation of Rasmussen working out of the facilities on Philadelphia Street. T.R. and his son, Rett, have continued with innovations including the Chillbuster line of gas log heaters, ALTERNA Contemporary Gas Fires (FireBalls, FireShapes and FireStones) and the Solaire Infrared Grills. Recently, Rasmussen started distributing the stylish Bromic Radiant Patio Heater line as a complement to its outdoor kitchen products.
Through all the changes over the years, craftsmanship, value, and industry leadership have been the constants at Rasmussen Iron Works, Inc. The Spirit of the Blacksmith lives on at Rasmussen!
Featured Products
Alterna Contemporary Gas Fires
Rasmussen recognizes that “usual” gas logs are not for everyone. Many people have homes with modern or contemporary decor in which logs would be out of place. This led us to introduce FireBalls™ over 30 years ago and, in more recent years, FireGlitter®, FireStones™ and FireShapes™. Our latest innovations are vent-free versions of these alternative styles. In recognition of the increasing desire for these alternative styles, Rasmussen has created ALTERNA® as our brandname for our vented and vent-free versions of FireGlitter, FireBalls, FireShapes and FireStones.
Each of the objects in the ALTERNA line, except FireGlitter, are made from the same fire-proof material from which we make our gas logs. The objects are available in a variety of colors.
ALTERNA vented sets are intended for use with either our Custom Pan Burner or Custom Embers Pan Burner. Vented sets can be outfitted with our “EASY” control systems.
ALTERNA vent-free sets have their own special chassis/burner/control assembly for each style. Chassis are available in black or stainless. All vent-free sets are standardly equipped with “EASY” controls.
FIREBALLS™-VENTED
For use in fully vented fireplaces – The Modern Alternative to a log fire
We created FireBalls™ for those with contemporary decor, for those with a modern flair, for those yearning for an alternative to the ubiquitous gas log and for those who just want something different.
FireBalls are made from the same high-heat resistant ceramic-bonded refractory material we use in the making of our gas logs. Standard sets are available in the below sizes. Click on the size to see the details about available sets. Uniform and Mixed FireBalls sets are used on our Custom Pan Burners (CS) for single face, double face and multi-sided fireplaces. Custom Embers Pan Burner (CXF) is for single sided fireplaces only utilizing only the Mixed FireBalls (Uniform FireBalls require a rectangular base to stack properly; the CXF pan is trapezoidal).
FireBalls sets are available in Natural Color (tannish gray, the base material color) and six ceramic stain colors made from Rasmussen’s proprietary formulation, including Black, Dark Gray, Light Gray, Beige, Brown and Adobe Red. We recommend darker colors (Black, Dark Gray, & Brown) as pan and firepit burners will create soot from the natural, luminous yellow flame. The black soot is more noticeable against the lighter colors (Natural, Adobe Red, Beige, & Light Gray); with the darker colors there is less contrast, so the soot is not as pronounced. FireBalls cannot be recolored.
FIRESTONES™-VENTED
For use in fully vented fireplaces – The Modern Alternative to a log fire
FireStones™ for those with contemporary decor, for those with a modern flair, for those yearning for an alternative to the ubiquitous gas log and for those who just want something different.
FireStones are made from the same high-heat resistant ceramic-bonded refractory material we use in the making of our gas logs – they will not explode like real stones when placed in a fire. Standard sets are available in the popular sizes, or in four different assortment packs.
FireStones sets are used on our Custom Pan Burners (CS) for single face, double face and multi-sided fireplaces. Custom Embers Pan Burner (CXF) is for single sided fireplaces only. Please contact us with your fireplace dimensions and set composition desires if you do not see anything to your liking from our offering.
FireStones sets and assortment packs are available in single colors Natural Color (tannish gray, the base material color) and seven Ceramic Stain colors made from Rasmussen’s proprietary formulation, including White, Black, Dark Gray, Light Gray, Beige, Brown and Adobe Red. See a ceramic color pallet here. We also have sets with complimentary color combinations, such as:
* Calico (CX) (White, Black, Light Gray, Beige, Brown and Adobe Red)
* Black/White/Beige (BWB)
* Black/White/Light Gray (BX)
FIREGLITTER®-VENTED
FireGlitter® – for those with contemporary decor, for those with a modern flair, for those yearning for an alternative to the ubiquitous gas log and for those who just want something different.Our burner design used with high-temperature glass creates a pleasing line of fire for your vented fireplace. We can create this look for virtually any size of vented fireplace.