Cairo cuts firefighters to save city's budget

CAIRO, Ill. -- The Cairo Fire Department is becoming a one-man show.

Mayor Paul Farris said the Southern Illinois city is laying off its five firefighters because of a tight budget. The positions were created just four months ago.

Fire chief Brandon Manker said the department will operate on a pay-by-call volunteer basis after Sept. 30, and he will be its only full-time employee. Cutting the firefighters will save the city about $190,000 in salaries.

Manker said there could be a time when no one is available to respond to a fire because volunteer firefighters, unlike on-call workers, aren't required to stay within city limits.

The chief said the department handles about 350 calls a year, and last year there were about 25 structure fires in the department's district.

The mayor said the Cairo Auxiliary Fire Department and other nearby fire departments will continue to help the town. Farris, who announced the decision at a community meeting Tuesday, said residents will still be safe.

"Of course the citizens will be concerned about change," Farris said. "But we're not leaving the city without fire protection. Brandon Manker is a highly qualified professional who can lead this department as a paid-on-call fire department."

Manker said Cairo's population of only a few thousand people makes it hard to justify having several full-time firefighters.

Despite the fire department layoffs, Farris said he has no intention of laying off police officers.

Three street department employees also were laid off with the firefighters.