Man Rescues 48 People in Ex-NYC Firetruck During Tulsa Cold
A Tulsa good Samaritan bought a retired firetruck at auction and turned it into a mobile rescue vehicle, helping nearly 50 people get off the streets during dangerous winter weather. Ryan DuVal named his truck "Hope" after its last service location and is bringing that name to life one rescue at a time.
While temperatures plunged across Tulsa, Ryan DuVal drove through the city in a 1981 firetruck custom-built for New York City, searching for people who needed shelter from the deadly cold.
Ryan isn't a firefighter. He's just someone who saw a need and decided to fill it.
Over two nights, he rescued 48 people from freezing temperatures, driving them to local shelters in his retired firetruck. He bought the vehicle at an auction after it completed its service in Hope, Arkansas.
"It's the hope truck, I'm bringing hope to Tulsa," Ryan said.
His most dramatic rescue came near 81st and Yorktown, where a woman had buried herself under blankets and snow next to a shopping cart. Most people walking by wouldn't have known anyone was there.
Ryan gently convinced her to accept help. "Don't be ashamed, I promise you we're here to help you," he told her as he loaded her belongings into the warm truck.
He drove her to the Salvation Army, treating her with the care of a concierge at a five-star hotel. "You want me to load this bag up ma'am? Ok, gotcha," he said, carrying her things.
His timing couldn't be more critical. Shelters across Tulsa filled with people escaping the brutal weather, including Lloyd Bridges at the BeHeard shelter who said simply, "If it wasn't for the shelter, I'd be dead."
Meanwhile, residents at Inhofe Plaza struggled without heat in their apartments. Marie Flowers described neighbors using ovens and stovetops to stay warm, bundling up in whatever they could find.
Sunny's Take
There's something powerful about Ryan's choice to buy a firetruck and name it Hope. He could have purchased any vehicle for his mission, but he chose one built for rescue. Now instead of fighting fires, it's fighting the cold and providing warmth to Tulsa's most vulnerable residents. He doesn't wait for someone else to solve the problem. He just drives through the streets, looking for people who need help.
Ryan's rescue mission continues as long as dangerous temperatures persist.
Based on reporting by Google News - Good Samaritan
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
Spread the positivity!
Share this good news with someone who needs it
