Baby born one room away from voters

MELROSE, N.Y., Nov. 11 (UPI) -- A New York state woman gave birth at a firehouse Election Day while people voted only one room away, officials said.

Dominic Pasinella, chief of the Melrose Fire Department and a candidate for town board, said he had just finished voting around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday when the department received a call from a couple who did not think they would make it to Samaritan Hospital in Troy before the birth of their baby, WTEN-TV, Albany, N.Y., reported Thursday.

Pasinella said he rushed back to the fire house and Ptarmigan Fox-Etman gave birth with the help of an EMT while people voted only one room away at the firehouse, which was serving as a polling place Tuesday.

The baby girl, Charis Etman, was born healthy at 7 pounds, 10 ounces.