COEUR d'ALENE - Firefighters are known for risking their lives braving intense heat. But on Tuesday, Coeur d'Alene Firefighters were donating heat, in the form of brand new winter coats, to local children in need.

"We can't help every kid," said Joshua Hoston, executive board member of the Coeur d'Alene Firefighters Union. "But we hope to help some."

The new coats were purchased through Operation Warm, a nonprofit organization which works with community groups to address the need for adequate winter clothing among children living in poverty. According to its website, the group distributes an average of 300,000 American-made coats per year.

"Getting involved with this is something we saw as a three-fold benefit," Hoston said. "We get to help kids, we get to help an American business and we get to help the economy. We just wanted to help our community and our country at the same time."

Through the fundraising efforts of firefighters, 36 coats were purchased. Hoston and other firefighters volunteered their time on Tuesday to hand out the jackets at the Harding Center Gym.

According to Hoston, the group worked with the Head Start Program, which sent notices home with students about the giveaway.

"That's how we ended up with 14 girls and 17 boys to give these coats away to," Hoston said.

Hoston said the firefighters hope to build on the success of this year's fundraising and give out even more coats next year. He added that donations can be made all year at www.operationwarm.org/coeur-d-alene.