17 firefighters at single station fathered babies in one year
The stork has been working overtime at one fire department, with an incredible 17 fire fighters welcoming babies the same year.
Nine boys and eight girls were born to the southern Californian fire department’s firies between July 2017 and July this year, accounting for almost 20 percent of the workforce with babies.
None of those were multiple births, which makes the statistic even more unbelievable.
The Oceanside Fire Department shared footage of the proud dads in uniform showing off their bundles of joy, while gathering together last week to celebrate the births.
“It started out one after the next, after the next,” Captain Timothy Scott told CBS News 8.
The captain, who is one of the 17 dads, added that the babies have been a blessing, creating a support system for the families both at work and outside of work, with children who will grow up together.
The Oceanside Fire Department has eight stations, currently staffed by about 90 members.
“That’s nearly 20 percent of our workforce with babies,” Captain Scott told NBC San Diego.
Having so many members on paternity leave over the 13 months proved challenging during the “intense” Californian fire season, the captain told WDSU News.
“But everybody pitched [in] and we were able to maintain our high level of service to the citizens of Oceanside,” he added.
The Oceanside announcement comes after an Oklahoma fire station welcomed seven babies over 15 months. Not as impressive as their Californian colleagues, but still a pretty busy Glenpool Fire Station, no doubt.
