Tears of grief turn to tears of sheer joy on Christmas Day.
Several families across Southern Nevada whose homes burned down this holiday season are getting help. The same firefighters who put out the fires that tore through their homes came bearing presents on Friday.
Getting ready to deliver gifts to kids with @LasVegasFD @KTNV pic.twitter.com/cgZGhCxAS9
— Parker Collins (@parkercollinstv) December 25, 2015
"It sucks and it hurts. It hits you in the chest, but you come and you do the most good for the most people you can," said Richard Tull, a firefighter.
For these families, these are presents they wouldn't have otherwise been able to give.
The nonprofit Operation FireHEAT has been saving Christmas for almost a decade. The group was started by 911 dispatchers.
Here come the gifts @KTNV pic.twitter.com/6hjxVE5fzH
— Parker Collins (@parkercollinstv) December 25, 2015
In most cases, the kids were absolutely shocked.
"I was like is there something burning? What's happening. I want to know, but then they stop here and I get so surprised," said Gabriela Mejia, who lost her home in a fire earlier in December.
Look at all that loot! #presents pic.twitter.com/YUaDbJRLBK
— Parker Collins (@parkercollinstv) December 25, 2015
Three families were visited on December 25. The nonprofit give out gifts well into January.