By Paris Rain, FOX23.com News Staff
TULSA, Oka. — As temperatures dropped and a winter storm moved through the Tulsa area over the weekend, one local man saw a need and decided to act by using a fire truck he originally bought just for fun.
Ryan Duval, a small business owner, spent hours driving Tulsa streets in his vintage fire truck, offering rides, warmth and help to people experiencing homelessness during dangerous winter conditions.
“I’m just doing what I was raised to do,” Duval said. “It’s good to give back, and now that I have the ability to do it, it’s nice.”
Duval said the effort began after he delivered an electric heater to a mother and child who were living in a garage. While leaving the area near 46th Street North, he noticed a man sitting in a park with only a T-shirt and a blanket.
“I pulled over and said, ‘Hey man, do you want a ride to the shelter?’” Duval said.
Duval told the man he needed to take his children home before returning with the fire truck. When he came back, the man was gone. After searching the area and speaking with police, Duval said the moment motivated him to keep going.
“It just inspired me to keep going that night,” Duval said. “I went until about 3 or 4 in the morning.”
By the end of the weekend, Duval estimates he helped nearly 70 people — whether by taking them to shelters, helping them get unstuck, or providing supplies.
When Duval bought the fire truck years ago at an auction, he never imagined it would be used this way.
“I never did, honestly,” Duval said. “I just bought it for fun and used it for parades and birthday parties for kids. Then it just kind of snowballed into this. I’m still in shock from it all, but it’s fun.”
Duval transported people to shelters and warming centers including John 3:16 Mission, the Tulsa Day Center and the Salvation Army. He said many locations were already aware of his efforts and welcomed people as soon as he arrived.
“It was nice to see the support from them,” Duval said. “Just people helping people.”
Community support has also played a major role. Brandon Cox, owner of Only Okie Graffiti and Vintage Shop, helped organize blanket donations after learning Duval needed supplies.
“He started going out and saving lives [of the] homeless people out in the freezing cold,” Cox said. “He started needing blankets, so we started accepting them up here at Only Okie.”
What started as a passion project has now become a mission for Duval — one fueled by compassion, community support and a fire truck he never expected would make such an impact.
