STEVENS POINT, Wis (WSAU) The Stevens Point Fire Department is negotiating a manpower and equipment-sharing agreement with Whiting and Plover. The departments already have a mutual aid agreement, where additional help can be called-in to fight fires on an as-needed basis. The new proposal would involve sharing resources at all fires. That would save money on equipment, allowing expensive firefighting vehicles to be shared. It would also mean more qualified firefighters would be available to all three departments.

There are still details to be worked out. All three communities would have to agree to the plan.

If approved, the new sharing agreement would start in 2011.