A four-year-old boy and a boy and a girl, both two, walked into Engine Company 75, at 11958 S. State St., at about 9:15 a.m. Engine 75 Captain Will Palmer said the children told him that their mother indicated to them that they were going "on a field trip."
While that is not unusual, when their mother did not appear within a couple of minutes, fire personnel searched the area and did not see any adults.
Palmer said he asked the children a few more questions, determined that they'd probably been abandoned, then called police and the Department of Children and Family Services. Fire personnel gave the children a snack while they waited to be taken to St. Francis Hospital, in Blue Island, to be checked, as required by law.
Palmer said the children were neatly dressed and appeared healthy. In the knapsack worn by a four-year-old, police and firefighters found a note signed by a person named "Sidney."
He did not disclose the contents of the note.
DCFS spokesperson Jill Manuel told WBBM that authorities know the identity of the woman, but have not located her. She said DCFS will attempt to place the children with relatives, if any can be found.
Chicago Fire Department Captain Robert Martin, who helped author so-called "safe haven" legislation enacted in 2001, said the children's mother does not qualify under the law.
The law allows newborn children to be abandoned at occupied firehouses or hospitals, and a bill on Governor Blagojevich's desk would extend such protection to children left at police stations. But the law applies only when the child or children are less than 72 hours old.
Nonetheless, Martin said he is relieved.
"They did a responsible thing," he said. "Rather than causing harm and allowing children to just wander off or any type of danger (occur), they did something in their mind that was safe."
District Chief Nicholas Russell agreed.
"Firehouses are a place of safety," he said. "We're a corner and an anchor in the community, and we want children to feel safe here - - and people to feel safe here."
Chicago Police Sgt. Robert Cargie said, while the mother's actions are not covered by the "safe haven" law, her intent was obvious and said it would be taken under consideration when she is found.
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