Tomball Firehouse #5 Installs First Safe Haven Baby Box in Harris County: A Lifesaving Milestone for Southeast Texas
In a coordinated effort between Tomball Fire Rescue, Harris County ESD #15, and the City of Tomball, the first Safe Haven Baby Box in Harris County has been installed at Tomball Firehouse #5—and only the second in the Greater Houston area, following a similar installation in The Woodlands earlier this spring.
The Safe Haven Baby Box is designed to provide a safe, legal, and anonymous way for parents in crisis to surrender newborns up to 60 days old. The new device, located at 19900 Telge Rd, Tomball, TX 77377, aims to serve as a resource for families who may have no other safe alternative.
To mark the occasion, a public blessing ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Tomball Firehouse #5. The event is open to the public and will feature remarks from local officials. Light refreshments will be served.
Funded by Community Donations
The project was funded entirely through private donations, with no taxpayer dollars used, according to officials. Supporters of the effort included Tomball Fire Rescue leadership, Harris County ESD #15, and local donors who advocated for expanding access to anonymous infant surrender options.
The initiative is designed to offer parents in crisis a safe, judgment‑free option if they feel they have no other alternatives. It also seeks to enhance infant safety and ensure that families have access to support during difficult circumstances.
How the Baby Box Works
The Safe Haven Baby Box is installed on the outside wall of the fire station and includes the following features:
- An exterior door that locks automatically once a baby is placed inside
- An interior access point allowing fire or medical personnel to retrieve the infant immediately
- Alarm and alert systems that notify staff the moment the box is used
The device is compliant with the Texas Safe Haven Law (also known as the Baby Moses Law), which permits parents to legally surrender unharmed newborns at designated safe locations such as hospitals, fire stations, and EMS facilities without facing criminal charges.
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The Second in Greater Houston, Following The Woodlands’ First
Tomball’s installation follows the unveiling of the Greater Houston region’s first Safe Haven Baby Box in The Woodlands on April 28, 2025. That device, located at Fire Station #6, was the 338th Baby Box in the nation and the first in Southeast Texas.
The Woodlands Township cited a tragic summer the previous year—when six newborns were abandoned in the region, two fatally—as a driving force behind the project. Local leaders described the box as a proactive step to provide mothers in crisis with a safe, legal, compassionate option.
With Tomball now joining this growing national network, Greater Houston communities are beginning to establish a regional safety net for newborns at risk of unsafe abandonment.
National Context: Why the Need Matters
Between 1989 and 1998, the number of newborns killed on the very day they were born was heartbreakingly high—more than ten times greater than at any other age in life. But when Safe Haven Laws began taking effect, that changed. By 2008 to 2017, infant deaths on the first day of life had dropped by two-thirds. Still, that first day remains the riskiest time in a newborn’s life.
Since Texas passed its Safe Haven Law (also known as the Baby Moses Law) in 1999, it’s joined all 50 states in giving parents a safer, more compassionate option: a way to legally and anonymously surrender a newborn at designated locations—no questions asked.
And these laws are making a difference. Since 1999, at least 4,524 babies have been safely relinquished across the country through Safe Haven programs. In contrast, there have been 1,610 illegal abandonments, tragically resulting in the deaths of 915 infants.
Behind these numbers are real lives saved—and a powerful reminder of how access to safe, judgment-free options can prevent unthinkable tragedies.
What Parents Should Know
For those who may be considering surrendering a newborn, the following resources are available:
- Texas Baby Moses Hotline: 1‑877‑904‑SAVE (1‑877‑904‑7283)
- Website: www.shbb.org
Under Texas law, parents may legally and anonymously surrender a baby who is 60 days old or younger and unharmed at a designated safe location. Those who do so in accordance with the law will not face prosecution.
Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for updates on local public safety efforts, community health initiatives, and Tomball events that matter.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.