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Langley's first fire department began as local neighbourhood "volunteer" fire departments in the 1930s. Previously, Langley residents were responsible for fending off fires close to their own properties. By the 1930s, however, "volunteer" fire departments became a necessity due to the growing population of Langley. Each neighbourhood's "volunteer" fire department enlisted the help of local men to answer emergency calls. Various neighbourhood departments included North West Langley, Murrayville, Brookswood, Fort Langley and Aldergrove. During the late 1950s and early 1960s, Langley's volunteer fire departments partnered with local ratepayers to build new fire halls throughout the Township and purchase fire trucks with attached water hoses. To this day, the Township of Langley employees both paid full-time and volunteer forces.

The Township of Langley, B.C., comprising Langley, Fort Langley, Murrayville, Langley Prairie, Derby, Milner, Aldergrove, Otter, Salmon River Uplands, and Glen Valley, was incorporated in 1873. The City of Langley, B.C., covering the Langley Prairie region, was incorporated as a separate entity in 1955. Langley was named after Thomas Langley, a prominent stockholder in the management of the Hudson's Bay Company. He had inherited his brother's stock in the Company in 1793 and was selected as a member of the committee in 1807. He held this position until his death in 1829.