The Orfodville Fire Protection District is fighting for survival.

Fire Chief Ryan Perkins says the Town of Newark has decided to leave the Orfordville District and enter into a service agreement with the Town of Beloit.

The exodus of Newark will result in a 30% loss of tax base for the Orfordville District, placing a punitive financial burden on the remaining District taxpayers.

That financial burden could ultimately cause the collapse of the District.

Perkins says it makes it almost impossible to hire the six full-time firefighters they were asking for.

Perkins says the idea of merging departments is at the forefront of a lot of people’s minds.