Washington State has a “safe haven” law titled “Safety of Newborn Children.” This law allow parents to leave their newborn baby, up to three days old, with a staff member at any hospital, emergency room, fire station, or rural health clinic.

The purpose of this law is to protect infants from abandonment and also to protect the parents from arrest or prosecution for abandonment, as long as there has been no abuse or neglect.

All District 6 fire stations can serve as a safe haven location provided personnel are in the facility. A newborn may not be left when personnel are away from the station.

• Station 61: 8800 NE Hazel Dell Avenue, Vancouver, WA 98665

• Station 62: 11600 NW Lakeshore Avenue, Vancouver, WA 98685

• Station 63: 1303 NE 136th Street, Vancouver, WA 98685

If a parent leaves their infant with personnel at one of the above fire stations, the parent need not worry about possible prosecution for leaving their infant.

The law is designed to save the lives of newborns in danger of abandonment. The newborn will receive appropriate medical care and be placed in a foster home. The parent may choose to remain anonymous. The parent, if willing, will provide a family medical history, and is given information regarding options for their own medical care and counseling.