Billings Fire Department celebrates 50 years of service to the community

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Billings Fire Department celebrates 50 years of service to the community

The Billings Township Fire Department celebrated its 50th anniversary and officially dedicated its new fire hall in Kagawong on August 26, honoring half a century of volunteer service, community sacrifice, and evolving firefighting technology.

Tom Sasvari

Sep 04, 2026 - 9 min read

Current and former members of the Billings Township Volunteer Fire department and community leaders took part in the rededication of a plaque originally dedicated to members of the fire department at the 20th anniversary of the inception of the fire department in 1976, last week as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations. In photo from left is Scott Graham, Bill Savage, Sandy Cook, Bill Orford, Randy Peters, Jay Swain, Ian Anderson, Dennis Beckon, Martin Connell, Doug Clark, Brad MacKay, Jim Chambers and Zack Dallaire. —photo by Tom Sasvari

Billings Fire Department celebrates 50 years of service to the community — Current and former members of the Billings Township Volunteer Fire department and community leaders took part in the rededication of a plaque originally dedicated to members of the fire department at the 20th anniversary of the inception of the fire department in 1976, last week as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations. In photo from left is Scott Graham, Bill Savage, Sandy Cook, Bill Orford, Randy Peters, Jay Swain, Ian Anderson, Dennis Beckon, Martin Connell, Doug Clark, Brad MacKay, Jim Chambers and Zack Dallaire. —photo by Tom Sasvari

KAGAWONG—The Billings Township Fire Department looked back at 50 years of serving and protecting the community and officially opening and dedicating its new fire hall in a community celebration August 26.

“Imagine owning a home or being a business owner and your building is on fire; you are on your own and in danger and have no one to turn to,” stated Randy Peters, deputy fire chief. “That was what it was like over 50 years ago in the community, until a group of concerned citizens said, ‘we need a dedicated fire department,’ initiating efforts to purchase necessary equipment a fire truck, fire station and several members of the community came forward to be trained as firefighters.”

“When I started with the fire department, we already had fire trucks, equipment and resources,” said Mr. Peters. “However, those who started the department started with nothing.” He explained in June 1976, a Class “A” pumper truck arrived from the city of Barrie, and a tanker truck was refurbished from a company on the Island and the firefighters fabricated a tank to sit on.