Volunteer organization turns 100.

The High River Fire Department was born 100 years ago.

Residents came together in 1906 after a fire swept most of the town.

Chief Len Zebedee says they have five full-time employees, but rely mostly on volunteers.

"We're just finishing off a class of eight recruits and we'll be starting in September with another class of eight, so we'll be up over forty-five. It's a combination of a lot of different people from all walks of life and job experiences.

He says they receive around 500 calls a year.

The firefighters are holding a sold-out birthday gala on September 19th where they hope to raise money for a bell tower built in 2001.