A Faulkner County fire truck memorial is in the works, as a local apparatus preservation group raises money to buy a retired fire engine in honor of Thomas Duggan, a 12-year-old who died by suicide.
The Faulkner County Fire Buff Apparatus Preservation and Community Outreach Program has set a $2,500 goal to purchase a 1988 Pierce Arrow 50-foot Telesqurt, a retired fire apparatus with its own history of community service.
“This is about far more than a fire truck,” the group wrote in announcing the effort.
Organizers say the truck would be dedicated to Thomas’s memory and used as a mobile platform for suicide awareness, prevention education and community outreach. They plan to bring it to schools, churches, festivals, car shows and other gatherings in Faulkner County and beyond.
The group says it wants to work alongside people experienced in suicide prevention to help young people recognize when they or someone they know needs support, encourage meaningful conversations and connect families with resources.
The organization pointed to national numbers to explain why the work matters. Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for Americans ages 10 to 24, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. About 9% of U.S. high school students said they attempted suicide in the past year in the CDC’s 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. A study published in JAMA Network Open in 2024 found suicide rates among children ages 8 to 12 rose an average of 8.2% a year from 2008 to 2022. The CDC reports 48,824 Americans died by suicide in 2024.
The group says it has already received donations and conditional sponsorship pledges, but it still needs more support to complete the purchase. Local businesses can also sponsor the project, with recognition on the truck and at future community appearances.
Donations can be made through the group’s GiveSendGo campaign.
The group closed its announcement with a simple message: “For Thomas. For the families. For the kids who need someone to listen.”
Help is available. If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or chat at 988lifeline.org.
HAVE INFORMATION YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE? Share your community news, announcements, sports results, and upcoming events with the ArkansasRadio.com family of radio stations. Submit your event at
To report a typo, please email newsarkansasradio@gmail.com
Leave a Reply