By FireRescue1 Staff
KELLOGG, Minn. — A fire department went through a baby boom this year when six out of 30 firefighters welcomed seven babies in five months.
ABC News reported that Kellogg Fire Department’s baby boom started with volunteer firefighter Ben VanLoon’s daughter Brielle in February.
“Everyone came over and supported us and told us what to do and what we’re going to expect,” VanLoon said. “Being on the fire department and being around these guys, it’s almost soothing, I guess, that they can help you get through this.”
Six more babies followed, including firefighter Tim McDonough, who had twins.
“We don’t know if there was something in the water or what,” VanLoon said. “It was like, ‘Whoa, another one! Whoa, another one!’”
Tim Hermann welcomed his daughter Harper on July 13, marking the end of the boom. He said it was at the holiday party in December that the fire department realized just how many babies they were having.
“All of our wives were sipping their waters and sodas and we were sipping our beers going, ‘Oh boy,’” Hermann said. “That was when we all kind of went, ‘Oh yeah, this is really happening.’”
The wives all threw baby showers for each other and helped out when each woman gave birth.
“It’s a family within a family and a small town where everyone is truly out to help,” wife Tara Tentis said, who gave birth to baby Hailey in April.
Tentis added that the babies will make their mark on Kellogg due to the small population of 469.
“The class when they go through school is just going to be amazing. It’s going to be a heck of a grade,” Tentis said. “They’ll be like one-fifth of their graduating class.”
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