The Associated Press
HOUSTON — Volunteer firefighter Victor Scrivens thought he was about to uncover a kitten when he made a startling discovery at the fire station — an abandoned newborn.
The baby boy, thought to be about 30 minutes old, was found Saturday morning near an air-conditioning unit at the Westlake Volunteer Fire Department.
He was wrapped in a blanket and still had part of his umbilical cord attached, authorities said.
Scrivens panicked for a split second, “but we immediately began to care for the baby, who seemed perfectly fine,” Chief Mark Palmer said.
“His temperature was a bit low, but that was it,” Palmer said.
The infant was placed into the custody of Child Protective Services.
Because Texas’ Baby Moses law allows parents to leave unharmed infants, up to 60 days old, at a hospital, fire station or emergency infant care provider with no questions asked, the mother is not likely to face charges.
Once the baby is released from the hospital, he’ll be placed in foster care. He’ll be put up for adoption once parental rights are legally terminated, a CPS spokeswoman said.