LAKE ELSINORE, CA —A group of Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department and AMR medics made a special delivery Saturday morning, successfully delivering a baby girl while en route to a Southwest Riverside County hospital.
Just after 6 a.m., a 911 caller pulled over to the side of Highway 74, saying they were in active labor, Cal Fire spokesperson Karina Espinoza told Patch.
Firefighters from the Good Hope station arrived to assist the expectant mom and loaded the expectant mother into the ambulance to take her to the hospital for the birth.
The baby, however, decided it was time to be born about ten minutes into the drive, and once they reached the I-15 Freeway.
As they approached Lake Elsinore, just after 6:30 a.m., medics from Station 9, along with AMR 485, successfully delivered the healthy baby girl in the back of the ambulance, according to Espinoza.
This little one had her own timeline, and the delivery was smooth, with no complications,” according to Espinoza.
Fire Captain James Worthington, FAE/Paramedic Corey Stearns and FAE/Paramedic Ryan Wafford will never forget this day, they said.
Both mom and her newborn daughter were in excellent condition upon arrival at the hospital. It was not immediately known what would be on the child’s birth certificate for “address of delivery.” Still, one social media commenter guessed it would read: “Somewhere on the side of Highway 74, Lake Elsinore.”
Another Riverside County resident added that her grandson, now 10, was also a paramedic delivery. “He is still in contact with his paramedic angel who delivered him,” she wrote.
Hundreds more wrote their congratulations to the Engine 9 crew, Cal Fire/Riverside County and all Cal Fire Firefighters who could enjoy another bright spot of good news in Southern California.