Detroit firefighters continue tradition of giving Christmas gifts to family who lost home to fire

DETROIT (WXYZ) - Little Dorian and Sydney Goolsby are learning miracles can happen this Christmas.

Today, the sisters got a list of fun gifts from a group of Detroit firefighters.

On December 4, the girls were asleep at home with their mom, Tamara Feagin, when a fire broke out.

Fortunately they all got out safely. Unfortunately the family lost everything.

Today - on Christmas Day - Detroit firefighters from Engine 40 made them breakfast and filled their Christmas tree with gifts.

“I got the whole collection of Monster High Dolls, some clothes, and an iPod Nano,” said Dorian Goolsby.

The firefighters also sent the family home with holiday supper.

“This was overwhelming,” said Feagin.  “I couldn’t believe what I received today.  God has been good.  We lost everything in the fire but somehow they got in touch with us and they put all of this together. I thank our fire department.”

During tough economic times in the city - with the fire department up against budget cuts - the heroes set aside a little of their own money to add holiday cheer to Feagin and her daughters.

Firefighters at Engine 40 have been giving fire victims a brighter holiday for the past 17 years and it has become a tradition.

“We respond to people every day,” said Sgt. Claiborne.  “We pull people out, we rescue them and they become part of our family.   We become attached, so even though we have a recession, even though we have cuts, it doesn’t stop the love we have for the community and the love the community has for us.”

Thanks to the firefighters at Engine 40, Tamara told 7 Action News this is their best Christmas yet and it is teaching her daughters the meaning of the season.

“I love Christmas and how God gives stuff for us,” said Sydney Goolsby.

The firefighters at Engine 40 typically gather all of the money in November and then they pick out a family to help in December. 

They told 7 Action News that seeing smiles on kids’ faces and giving them a Merry Christmas gives them a Merry Christmas too.