GARDNER — The Gardner Fire District has taken over operations of fire protection services in the village and a separate Gardner Fire Department no longer exists.

Village officials reassured Gardner residents at Monday's village board meeting that despite Gardner Fire Department no longer being able to provide protection services to the village, the Gardner Fire District and village are ensuring services.

On Friday evening, the Gardner Fire Department informed the village it was unable to provide continued fire protection and ambulance service to the village's residents because it did not have any funds to pay for services or to get fuel, said Gardner Village Commissioner Dick Hileman.