A baby boy was born outside a Chicago firehouse early Tuesday, authorities said.
The baby's unexpected roadside arrival happened outside Engine 14 in the 1100 block of West Chicago Avenue in the city's Goose Island neighborhood.
A friend of the mother in labor was driving her to the hospital, authorities said, and pulled over at the firehouse to get help in delivering the baby.
Cpt. Barb Ohse ran outside with firefighters Aidan Flahaven and Jemel Brown and found the mom-to-be in the backseat. At first Ohse told the woman to hold off on pushing until the ambulance arrived, but then, she said, nature took over.
"She was crowing, so we went ahead and said OK, we are going to deliver," Ohse said.
The delivery went smoothly and rapidly.
"Today was an amazing experience," Brown said. "It was breathtaking to watch it take place."
"Thankfully everything went really well," Ohse said. "This is a first. I have three kids of my own. I think I'm accustomed to chaos but, yes, it felt a little chaotic."
"Mom and baby are doing fine," CFD tweeted just after 9:30 a.m. Friday. They were both taken to an area hospital, authorities said.
As for the baby’s name, there was no immediate word on what mom named the little one. But firefighters in Company 14 said they threw out some ideas: Jemel and Aidan to name a few.
