LOVILIA — The Monroe County town of Lovilia still has fire coverage, even though many members of the volunteer fire department have resigned.

Ray Stone, the Marion County emergency management director, confirmed Friday that Lovilia will be covered by mutual aid from neighboring fire departments.

Lovilia is two miles south of the Marion County line and the town’s fire department serves a portion of Marion County — Marysville, Hamilton and the rural areas across the county line. The coverage is part of a fire suppression agreement.

Stone said he didn’t have the exact details of what happened between Lovilia Mayor Dave Beary and the town’s fire department. But, he said he could “preface the whole thing.”

“I had asked Cory Bakalar, the assistant Lovilia fire chief who works at the VA hospital here in Knoxville, if his department would be interested in setting up a shelter Tuesday for displaced folks,” Stone said. “And, I asked if his department would open a shelter at the fire station if the station was generator-backed.”

Stone said Bakalar agreed to talk to Fire Chief Pat Silvers and later told Stone that Silvers agreed a shelter would “be a good thing” for people coming in from rural areas.

“All I know is the mayor came to the fire station and was upset it was opened, saying it was a liability for the town,” Stone said. “I’ve heard all but two of the firefighters walked out.”

The Courier’s attempts to contact Silvers or the mayor on Friday were unsuccessful.

Statewide media outlets have already reported the Lovilia fire department also serves as first responders and will be backed up by the ambulance services from Monroe County Hospital and Bussey.

Cindy Toopes can be reached at (641) 683-5376 or via e-mail at cindy@ottumwacourier.com.