Prairie Meadows awards $18,703 Community Betterment Grant to Newton Fire Department

The Newton Fire Department has received an $18,703.65 Community Betterment Grant from Prairie Meadows to purchase new rope rescue equipment and specialized wildland and vehicle extrication gear.

The grant-funded equipment enhances firefighter safety and improves the department’s ability to respond to technical rescues, vehicle extrications, and grass fires. The project was completed at the end of November 2025, and the equipment is now in service.

In the past, firefighters often relied on structural firefighting gear for grass fires and vehicle extrications. While effective for structural fires, that gear is heavier, hotter and not designed for all types of emergency responses.

“Having gear designed specifically for wildland fires and vehicle extrications allows our firefighters to work more safely and with less heat stress,” Captain Ryan Volk said. “One example is the helmet. Traditional fire helmets are designed to protect from impacts above the head, but specialty helmets provide better protection during vehicle extrications, where impacts can come from multiple directions.”

The new rope rescue equipment also improves the department’s ability to perform technical patient rescues safely and efficiently, expanding response capabilities for complex incidents.

The Community Betterment Grant program is administered by Prairie Meadows, a nonprofit organization that supports community projects across Iowa by promoting economic development, jobs, agriculture and tourism.

To learn more about Prairie Meadows Community Betterment Grants, visit prairiemeadows.com/community.