A bittersweet milestone has been reached in North Abaco as the community receives a critically needed fire truck, a donation catalyzed by the tragic deaths of two local teenagers. The Eagles’ Wings Foundation and its Pathfinders taskforce provided the emergency vehicle, which will serve the underserved Little Abaco communities. The truck bears the names of 12-year-old Montana Ferguson, who perished in a house fire in August 2025, and 13-year-old Terrance Williams, who died in a November car accident.
The Ferguson family expressed profound mixed emotions, acknowledging the necessity of the donation while lamenting that it required unimaginable loss to prompt action. Jacqueline Duncombe, Montana’s aunt, stated in an interview with The Tribune that while grateful for the enhanced community safety, the pain remains acute. She revealed residents had petitioned for additional fire resources for years, highlighting systemic preparedness failures.
The fatal incident unfolded when a fire erupted at a friend’s home where Montana was staying. Despite desperate rescue attempts by neighbors, the single-storey wooden structure was fully engulfed by the time firefighters arrived from Cooper’s Town—nearly an hour away. The home’s owner, Ocianna Scott, and her three children escaped physically unharmed but lost all possessions.
Local political candidate Terrece Bootle detailed the rapid mobilization following the tragedy, citing a decisive conversation with Scott P Lewis of Eagles’ Wings that activated collaborations with local administrators, the North Abaco Pastors Association, and volunteer firefighter expertise. The newly acquired truck, currently awaiting shipment from Florida, represents the organization’s second such donation to North Abaco, following a previously established fire station in Cooper’s Town.
Gary Smith, Deputy Chief of the North Abaco Volunteer Fire Department, confirmed the new engine is fully equipped with bunker gear, hoses, and external pumps, promising significantly improved response capabilities. Meanwhile, the community continues to honor the departed youths, with Sherlin C Bootle Secondary School creating memorial tributes symbolizing the enduring impact of their presence and laughter.