A Life Born Amid Wildfire... Heartwarming Reunion with Firefighters After 100 Days

Delivered at Home Near Wildfire Scene with Firefighters' Help
Baby's Family Visits Fire Station with 100-Day Rice Cakes to Express Thanks

A baby who was safely born with the help of firefighters during a large wildfire in April has reunited with their lifesavers in Sancheong, Gyeongnam, on the occasion of their 100th day since birth.

According to Yonhap News on July 11, a family accompanied by their 100-day-old baby visited the Danseong 119 Safety Center at the Sancheong Fire Station on July 9 in the morning. As soon as the firefighters saw the family, they immediately recognized the mother and baby whom they had assisted about 100 days earlier.

This baby was born around 3 a.m. on April 1 at a house in Sicheon-myeon, Sancheong County, Gyeongnam. At that time, a wildfire was rapidly spreading throughout the Sicheon-myeon area, and firefighting efforts were in full swing. Then, a radio message came into the wildfire command post (CP) in Sicheon-myeon: "A baby has been born, breathing and conscious. The mother is breathing and conscious." The message indicated that a baby had been born at a house near the wildfire site and that a swift response was needed.

The scene of a baby being born during the wildfire in Sancheong, Gyeongnam on April 1. Provided by Sancheong Fire Station

The Sancheong Fire Station immediately dispatched the Danseong Special Emergency Team, which was on wildfire standby duty, and the Mountain Rescue Team, which was returning to base, to the scene. Upon arriving at the house, the firefighters saw the mother holding her newborn with the umbilical cord still attached. They quickly took measures to prevent hypothermia and stabilized the mother. Following the instructions of a medical guidance doctor, they clamped the umbilical cord and assisted the guardian in cutting it. They also performed a uterine fundal massage to induce placental delivery and transported both the mother and baby to a nearby obstetrics and gynecology hospital.

Now, as the baby and mother mark the 100th day since birth, they visited the firefighters with traditional 100-day rice cakes to express their gratitude. The firefighters congratulated the family with a big round of applause. One firefighter who had responded to the scene at the time said, "It was wonderful to see the baby growing up healthy again," and added, "I hope the baby continues to grow up well and healthy in the future."