BILLINGS - The Community of Laurel is gearing up for their big Fourth of July celebration Saturday with a fireworks display that attracts thousands from the region each year. But there was also 100 more reasons this year's celebration will be bigger than ever.

Preparations for the event are now in full swing. "We've got an unreal show for people this year," says Fireworks Show Coordinator, and Firefighter Scott Wilm.

The 35 men that make up the Laurel Volunteer Fire Department are gearing up for the biggest show ever, in celebration of the Department's 100 years of service to the city.

"With being able to fight fire, protect the city and our residents, we feel this is one way we can pay them back," says Wilm.

The Fire Department began in 1909 and has been putting on the well-known display each year for more than 50 years. They say they've relied on donations from the community and area businesses to keep it going each year. But this year, in honor of their centennial, they're going big.

"I'm really excited to see what we have. There's a lot of new shots going off that we haven't seen."

The show will be double the boom of years past. Lighting off about 400 shots a minute and igniting a total of 15,000 shots in under an hour.

Each year the volunteers set aside a month of time to prepare for the big day. "Between all of the promotions, and the buying of the bombs and everything else to get the show going we probably put an average of 200 to 300 man hours each for the show and then it all goes up in about 45 minutes."

But, even with all the work that behind the scenes, firefighters say the event is something they look forward to each year.

"I think in the end it's well worth it. Getting all the remarks and seeing all the people, some who come from all over the world, and then having them come back each year."

This year's show will be held at Thomson Park. Events begin at 6:00 p.m. Satuday night, with music, food and raffles. The fireworks display will start around 10:30, or once the sky is dark enough.