Where Is That Siren Coming From Every Week In Downtown Billings?

Last summer, when I moved to work in Downtown Billings and to Townsquare Media... I was sitting in my office and heard this strange siren outside. Though, at that point, I wrote it off and figured it was just a test of something, somewhere. Since that day, I've heard that siren weekly inside, and outside, of the tower... and I started wondering what it was. If you are also curious, I've got your answer.

Get our free mobile app

Victoria Hill, Billings Public Information Superwoman

I honestly need to send some donuts or something over to Victoria's office at this point, because weekly we are emailing back and forth... I have questions about random things in town, and she has the occasional question for me.

So, after asking Victoria about that strange siren coming from... somewhere, here's the answer.

Turns out, I wasn't the only one who didn't know what the heck it was. Phew.

The Refinery, Of Course!

Honestly... I should have guessed that. My first thoughts were alarms from Wells Fargo, or maybe somehow a hospital way up 27th... but nope. It is the Phillips 66 Refinery.

Now, I knew we are just a few blocks away from the refinery, though I never realized they did weekly warning siren tests. In the over 4 years of being here in Billings, I never heard them until I started working in downtown Billings.

I did reach out to the refinery, to inquire about the warning siren tests, and to find out the exact day(s) and time(s) they do it, however, my call has gone unreturned. Oh well.

Did you know about this siren test? What other weird sounds have you heard in Billings? Let us know in App Chat or on Facebook.

(P.S. Victoria, let me know your favorite donut flavor sometime.)