Firefighters Assist with Highway Delivery of Baby Boy on 23 Freeway

A routine emergency call turned into a celebratory milestone on the afternoon of January 29, 2026. Ventura County firefighters and paramedics helped a mother deliver a healthy baby boy in the back of an ambulance.

Crews were initially dispatched to a pregnancy-related emergency along the 23 Freeway in Thousand Oaks. Upon arrival, they found the mother in active labor and quickly moved her into the vehicle.

The delivery happened just minutes after the ambulance left the scene. Firefighter-paramedics Jared Gray and Austyn Frailey assisted the mother as the newborn, named Andre, arrived into the world.

The responding crew included Captain Tyler Johnson, Engineer Ali Castro, and Firefighter Anthony Chaidez. The department praised the team for their quick thinking and medical expertise during the high-pressure situation.

Later that afternoon, the crew visited the family at the hospital to check on their progress. They brought flowers for the new mother and shared a photo with the proud parents and baby Andre.

The Ventura County Fire Department highlighted the event on social media as a "remarkable turn of events." They expressed their joy in serving the community during such a positive and life-changing moment.