KLICKITAT COUNTY, WA – On Sunday, August 31, 2025, a Klickitat County 911 Communications Officer helped a Trout Lake man deliver his baby girl after a rare and urgent call came in.
At 1:08 a.m., Communications Officer Elea received a 911 call from a father, Luke Dearden, whose wife, Lianna, was in active labor and wouldn’t make it to the hospital. Recognizing the delivery was imminent, Elea provided calm and clear instructions to the father, guiding him through the process of safely delivering his baby. Simultaneously, Communications Officer Caroline stepped in to manage the other emergency calls coming into the center, allowing Elea to remain focused and dedicated to the high-stakes delivery. Caroline immediately dispatched Klickitat County Emergency Medical Services (KCEMS) and first responders from Trout Lake Fire Department to the scene.
Luke Dearden later sent a heartfelt thank-you note, stating, “Her instruction may have saved my daughter’s life; she made a difficult situation far less stressful. My daughter, Vivian, was born after talking with the operator for 10 minutes. The operator was the first to congratulate us!”
The quick actions and teamwork of both Communications Officers ensured a positive outcome. Shortly after the birth, Trout Lake volunteer firefighters arrived, and the KCEMS team transported the healthy mother and baby to a nearby hospital in Hood River.
In a recent ceremony, both Elea and Caroline were awarded the “Stork Pin” for their exceptional work. The Dearden family—Luke, Lianna, their older daughter, and the newest addition, baby Vivian, along with Vivian’s grandmother—visited the 911 center to be present for the presentation. As a token of their congratulations, Elea, Caroline, and the entire department presented the family with a gift basket to welcome baby Vivian.
“We are truly amazed by the incredible job Luke and Lianna did under such pressure,” said Filiberto Ontiveros, Chief of Operations for Klickitat County Emergency Management. “They deserve all the credit for staying calm and bringing their beautiful daughter into the world. This is a rare and special occasion for our communications officers. Their composure and professionalism in such a high-stress situation reflect the exceptional dedication of our team. We are incredibly proud of Elea and Caroline for their swift, coordinated response.”
The Klickitat County 911 team is trained to handle a wide range of emergencies, and this incident highlights their crucial role in providing life-saving assistance, even from a distance.
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