Heroic firefighters turn fire station into baby delivery room

Firefighters at Lansdowne Road Fire Station were woken to a very different kind of emergency in the early hours of Friday morning. A baby girl arrived nearly 12 weeks premature, turning the station into a makeshift delivery room.

The parents arrived at 1:15am. members, trained as an ambulance emergency assistant and no stranger to unexpected deliveries, quickly assessed the situation and kept the mother calm.

Within 30 minutes, at 1:45am, the baby was born. An ambulance rushed the mother and child to Khayelitsha Day Hospital shortly after 2:00am, where both were reported stable.

City Mayco Member for Safety and Security JP Smith praised the crews: “Firefighters didn’t hesitate. Their quick reaction ensured both mom and baby are doing well. They are trained for emergencies, but stepping in as midwives is always extraordinary.”

Smith added: “These moments show the extraordinary lengths our emergency crews go to every single day. They are not just fighting fires or responding to accidents — they are literally saving lives in every sense.”

He also highlighted the community impact: “For many residents, especially in areas like Khayelitsha and Gugulethu, the nearest hospital can be far. Our firefighters’ quick thinking can make the difference between life and death. That’s why their role goes beyond traditional firefighting — it’s about protecting and serving our communities in every way possible.”

Firefighters say the work is both challenging and rewarding. “It’s not in the job description, but when it happens, there’s no time to think — you act,” said one crew member.

Over the 2024 festive season, firefighters assisted with six births, three at Mfuleni Fire Station. Across the full year, 16 babies were delivered with Fire & Rescue support, with Hout Bay alone seeing ten arrivals under firefighters’ watchful eyes.

In December 2024, Mfuleni firefighters guided a mother through the birth of a healthy boy via telephone instructions from paramedics at Macassar Fire Station. 

Earlier this year, on 24 July, Ottery Fire Station staff helped deliver a baby boy, Lagen, who arrived a day ahead of schedule. Platoon Commander  Amesha Bachan led the delivery, and both mother and baby were safely transported to hospital.

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Cape Argus