Last Saturday, Aug. 17, marked a landmark occasion for the Belle Plaine Fire Department - its celebration of 125 years in operation. To mark the occasion, the fire department pulled out all of the stops. From live music to balloon artists, to the time-honored tradition of water fights, Saturday’s celebration was nothing short of a community hurrah for Matt Stier, the sitting chief of the Belle Plaine Fire Department. “We had a good celebration day,” Stier said of the event. “It’s a nice benchmark to make here. It was an honor to be at the head when this happened.” People from Belle Plaine and beyond gathered in Prairie Park for a day of activities, including a fire truck show and a beanbag tournament. In the evening, crowds gathered for a street dance accompanied by the Charlie Sticha Band, The Six Outlaws and Viva Knievel. Children had the chance to enjoy bounces houses and dunk tanks as well as face painters.