Roane County, Tenn., spent several years planning for a countywide fire department and got the necessary approval from its commission this week. will fund a county fire department.

WBIR-TV reported that the new department will be eligible for federal funds and some ear marks. The is funded from tax money set aside in 2007 and no new tax would be needed.

"This also sets the stage for eventually being able to hire firemen to assist the volunteers, because during the days, sometimes it's hard and challeging to get enough individuals on the scene," Howie Rose with Roane County Emergency Management told the station.