Chattanooga firefighter Corey Hooper has been promoted to Lieutenant at Engine 21 Red Shift, a career advancement that follows his remarkable work with the department, including an unforgettable emergency call where he delivered a baby in the back of an ambulance.
“Never stop learning and keep mentoring our new firefighters. Lean on our strong officers for support,” Chattanooga Fire Chief Terry Knowles said during the promotion announcement. “You do outstanding work and you will excel as a lieutenant. We are behind you and we are excited to see where you’re going to go the rest of your career.”
The promotion comes after Hooper demonstrated the quick thinking and compassion that defines Chattanooga’s fire service. On Saturday, March 5, 2022, while serving with the Engine 15 Red Shift crew, Hooper responded to what started as a routine medical call to a Brainerd home for a pregnancy emergency.
When firefighters arrived, the patient informed them her water had broken. Crews quickly got her onto a stretcher and into an ambulance for transport to the hospital. Hooper rode in the ambulance alongside Hamilton County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) paramedics while the rest of his crew followed in the fire engine.
As he worked to keep the patient comfortable during transport, the situation escalated rapidly. According to the Chattanooga Fire Department, the patient “quickly” announced the baby was coming.
With little time to spare, Hooper assisted in delivering the child in the back of the moving ambulance. He held the newborn baby girl until the umbilical cord could be cut, then carefully placed her in her mother’s arms. Through the ambulance’s back window, Hooper gave his crew a thumbs up signal, letting them know the delivery had been successful.
“Not everyone gets to deliver a baby, so I was happy to help and glad to be a part of such an incredible moment,” Hooper said.
The successful delivery was a team effort involving Captain Danny Usher, Lieutenant Michael Battle, Senior Firefighter Brandon Lawrence, Hooper, and Firefighter Tyler Traub. The fire department extended congratulations to the family and invited them to visit Station 15 anytime to meet the Red Shift crew and show them how the baby is.