Aug 14, 2025 By Jon Andreassi 2 min read

The Houston Volunteer Fire Department is inviting the community to celebrate a century of service this weekend.

There will be live music, a food truck and fireworks at Helltown Taproom beginning at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

Chad Roberts, president of the fire department, said the department officially began on Feb. 23, 1925, but organizers elected to wait for good weather before holding an official celebration.

He notes that firefighters are used to running big fundraising events, such as their annual pumpkin festival, but that they will be taking it a bit easier for this occasion.

“Usually when we do something like this, we’re working it,” Roberts said. “We’re just going to kind of kick back, relax and enjoy the day.”

Roberts has been with the department since 2021. His grandfather and uncle were members before him.

“The rest of the fire department is kind of like that too. There are a lot of folks that are generational there,” Roberts said.

He noted that in the time the Houston Volunteer Fire Department has existed, it has seen no shortage of historical events.

“This department has been through a world war, the Korean War, Vietnam, with members leaving and coming back,” Roberts said.

Roberts described the small community of Houston having such a long-lasting volunteer fire department as “invaluable.”

Houston is just one square mile, and Roberts said many of their calls are for mutual aid in neighboring municipalities. Though they still get the occasional call for a structure fire, a local department allows for a quick response.

“Seconds will save lives,” Roberts said.

Performing at the 100-year celebration will be Aaron Margaria from 3:30 to 6 p.m., and Gregg Johnson from 7 to 10 p.m. There will be a fireworks display at dusk.

Helltown Taproom is located at 101 W. Pike St.

“Please come down and say ‘hi’, share a memory,” Roberts said.