VIDEO: Dorchester County Council is considering taking steps to have the North Charleston Fire Department take over the area that is currently served by the Ashley River Fire Department, and shut the department down.
The Ashley River Special Tax District was formed in 1979 to create the fire department because there was no fire protection near the area. The department's single fire station is located on Dorchester Road near Lincoln Patriot Boulevard.
But now county officials say that is no longer the case because of annexations, and now North Charleston surrounds the ARFD service area.
The proposed move is upsetting residents and ARFD staff. Chief Scott Inabinet told News 2 that the department was never approached by the county before the proposed move showed up on the county council agenda at the end of last week.
"There was no formal communication, there was no contact, they never asked us, they never sat down with us and said here's why we're doing this," said Chief Inabinet.