St. Clair County city may lose its entire fire department

Margaret is the third largest city in St. Clair County and in less than a month, they won't have any firefighters.

The city was founded in 2011 and is home to about 4,000 people. If the firefighters are gone, many residents and business owners worry that their safety and low insurance rates will be in jeopardy.

Residents tell FOX6 News that the quality of life in the city is great as long as they can retain their five firefighters and paramedics.

The workers will lose their jobs because a federal grant that pays for their department is running out. Mayor Isaac Howard says the city is trying to find alternate resources to keep the firefighters.

Fire Chief Thomas E. Dixon, Jr. writes in a letter to the city that "I do not believe that I can properly articulate in words how dangerous it will be should we reduce staffing." He adds that he feels that the fire department has safed several citizens from situations in which they likely would have passed away.

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