On 1/9/2023, at 11:43 am, the Lompoc Fire Department was in the 2000 block of N H St checking on black smoke they had seen earlier. While there, they discovered a white female adult actively giving birth, and the child’s father was also present. The female delivered her child prematurely with the child’s father’s assistance. The Fire Department contacted them while they formulated a plan to rescue the trio, as they were surrounded by water flowing through the riverbed.
The Fire Department managed to get all parties out of the riverbed, and the child was immediately taken to the Lompoc Hospital, along with the mother. Once at the hospital, the Lompoc Police responded based on the circumstances of potential child endangerment.
The Lompoc Police Department is investigating the case. Child Welfare Services was notified of the investigation. The child and the mother were admitted to the Lompoc Hospital and are in stable condition.
Later in the day, at 2:00 pm, Lompoc Police Dispatch received a call regarding a reporting party who heard someone yelling for help. The Lompoc Police Department responded and met with the caller, who walked them to where the voices were heard. Officers discovered three persons and a dog in the middle of the riverbed surrounded by water, approximately 40 yards from the west river’s edge, just east of Riverbend Park. Lompoc Fire Personnel was summoned and determined this rescue required assistance from the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, Swift Water Rescue Team. The Swift Water Rescue Team arrived a while later and rescued one of the three people involved, as the other two wanted to remain there. Animal Control was summoned by the Fire Personnel and is waiting for their response.
These two incidents are a good reminder that if you do not need to be out on the road, please stay home. Other parts of the City of Lompoc have large amounts of standing water.