HESPERIA — Community leaders in the High Desert on Wednesday praised the actions of a young mother who surrendered her newborn twins to a local fire station.

San Bernardino County Fire reported that at 8:39 p.m. Monday, a young female arrived at Fire Station 302 on Olive Street in Hesperia and announced she had just given birth to twins and desired to leave the babies at the station under the state’s Safe-Surrender law.

Fire Captain Andrea Binley and her fire crew immediately took possession of the newborns and assessed their medical needs before the babies were transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital for further medical evaluation.

Prior to arriving at the fire station, both infants were found clean, fed and in good medical condition. The mother refused medical attention and was provided information and instructions on how to reclaim her children in the event she wished to do so in accordance with the law.

“I was amazed when I heard what this brave, young mother did for her babies,” said spokeswoman Laura Foss, with the Rose of Sharon Pregnancy Resource Center in Victorville. “For this mother to take the initiative to surrender her babies shows just how much she really loves those babies.”

Foss said she’s read too many tragic stories of women who gave birth and abandoned their newborns in trash dumpsters, back alleys and other unsafe locations.

Mayor Larry Bird also credited the mother for her decision to surrender her babies at the fire station.

“Life is so precious,” Bird told the Daily Press. “Giving mothers this safe place prevents tragic deaths and injuries. Bless her for making this responsible decision.”

In a written statement, Fire Chief Mark Hartwig said, the Safe Surrender program was created for these situations.

“This young mother did the right thing by bringing her babies to the fire station,” Hartwig said. “Regardless of your circumstances, the Safe Surrender program is a viable and loving option. No questions asked.”

Known as the “Safely Surrendered Baby Law” or “Safe-Haven Law,” state law provides immunity for mothers or guardians of newborn infants to safely surrender the infant within 72 hours of birth, with no questions asked and free from criminal prosecution.

The law responds to the increasing number of newborn infant deaths due to abandonment in unsafe locations. The law specifies that the person with lawful physical custody, after surrendering the child, have 14 days to change their mind and reclaim the baby.

From 2001 through 2017, 931 newborns have been surrendered in California, and 88 newborns were surrendered during the 2017 calendar year.

In 2004, the County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution designating fire stations as “Safe Haven” sites. Since that time, county fire stations are equipped as “Safe-Surrender” sites.

Fire stations that are not staffed full-time have a phone located outside the station that will connect directly to the dispatch center. Safe-Surrender signs are displayed at all surrender locations.

“My prayer is that someone will follow up with the mother for prayer, support and with resources,” Foss said. “I know that we’d welcome her with open arms should she decide to visit or call us.”

Rose of Sharon is a non-profit Christian ministry empowering women to carry their babies to term. The organization helped nearly 1,500 families last year with a variety of services and supplies.

Other Safe Surrender sites can be found by calling 211 or 877-222-9723. For more information on “Safe-Surrender,” visit www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/Safely-Surrendered-Baby.

For more information on the Rose of Sharon, call 760-243-5006 or visit www.roseofsharonprc.org.

Reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227, RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com, Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz