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| Firefighter delivers baby at the scene of Ponders End fire | Firefighter delivers baby at the scene of Ponders End fire |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A firefighter delivered a baby boy when a woman went into labour near the scene of a blaze in north London. | A firefighter delivered a baby boy when a woman went into labour near the scene of a blaze in north London. |
| The woman and her partner were on their way to hospital when they got stuck in traffic near the fire in Ponders End on Wednesday morning. | The woman and her partner were on their way to hospital when they got stuck in traffic near the fire in Ponders End on Wednesday morning. |
| An ambulance was called but before it arrived firefighter Ross McLaren delivered the child in the back of the couple's car. | An ambulance was called but before it arrived firefighter Ross McLaren delivered the child in the back of the couple's car. |
| The mother and the baby were said to be doing well before going to hospital. | The mother and the baby were said to be doing well before going to hospital. |
| High Street was condoned off as the fire was tackled, leading to heavy traffic in the area. | High Street was condoned off as the fire was tackled, leading to heavy traffic in the area. |
| Mr McLaren said when he arrived to help the child's head was already visible. | Mr McLaren said when he arrived to help the child's head was already visible. |
| One Born Every Minute | One Born Every Minute |
| He was helped by colleague Richard Hall. | He was helped by colleague Richard Hall. |
| Once the boy was born the firefighters kept him warm until the ambulance arrived to take the mother and baby to North Middlesex Hospital. | |
| Amanda Salmon, from London Ambulance Service, said: "Mum was holding the baby when I arrived. The cord hadn't been cut yet so I did that." | Amanda Salmon, from London Ambulance Service, said: "Mum was holding the baby when I arrived. The cord hadn't been cut yet so I did that." |
| Mr McLaren, who has been a firefighter for 15 years, said he had no first aid training but his wife watched the TV programme One Born Every Minute. | Mr McLaren, who has been a firefighter for 15 years, said he had no first aid training but his wife watched the TV programme One Born Every Minute. |
| He added: "It has definitely been one of the highlights of my career and it's not something I ever expected that I would do in my life. | |
| "Someone said to me the other day that as firefighters we usually enter people's lives at their worst moments so being there at such a joyful occasion makes a nice change." | |
| After their midwife duties the firefighters returned to the blaze to help damp it down. | After their midwife duties the firefighters returned to the blaze to help damp it down. |
| About 70 firefighters were at the scene of the blaze, which began at 01:30 BST. It took the brigade about seven hours to bring it under control. | About 70 firefighters were at the scene of the blaze, which began at 01:30 BST. It took the brigade about seven hours to bring it under control. |
| Twelve people escaped from the fire, which began in a basement and affected neighbouring businesses and four flats. | Twelve people escaped from the fire, which began in a basement and affected neighbouring businesses and four flats. |
| Residents had been urged to keep their windows shut due to the large amount of smoke. | Residents had been urged to keep their windows shut due to the large amount of smoke. |