The chief of the Spring Lake Park-Blaine-Mounds View Fire Department hopes his department can have two fully operational quint trucks in the near future, but only one new truck has been approved for now.

Fire authority expects to be able to cover estimated $1.5 million expansion with cash Chief Andy Pless said a larger main fire station in Howell would improve security and provide more training and office space. A possible plan, which is still in its beginning stages, is to expand the 7,500-square-foot fire station by about 6,200-square-feet, Pless said.

With additional funding approved by the Madison City Council Tuesday, the Madison Fire Department will be able to expand its southeast side fire station that includes training space and a community meeting room. The approved resolution authorizes the fire department to design Fire Station 14 with an additional 6,000 square feet - totaling a 20,000 square feet station - at a total estimated cost of $6.75 million.

Two firefighters responding to a call were injured when their rescue truck had a tire blowout and crashed. The Burnet Volunteer Fire Department says the crash happened around 1:30 p.m. on Farm to Market 2340, just east of US 281 - about 10 miles north of the town of Burnet.