SAN DIEGO -- The locations where parents can legally give up an infant without fear of prosecution was extended by the Board of Supervisors Tuesday to include San Diego County fire stations.

State and county law already permits parents to legally surrender infants up to 72 hours old at hospital emergency rooms.

According to Supervisor Ron Roberts, extending the safe-surrender sites to fire agencies that are staffed 24 hours a day will allow mothers to turn over infants at a place of safety, "without any questions asked."

According to the county, the policy will permit firefighter paramedics to assume custody of the infant, contact hospitals and to assess and provide for any medical needs the baby may have.

The state's "Safely Surrendered Baby" law was established in 2001 to prevent infants being unsafely and illegally abandoned. Since it was passed, 182 newborns have been safely surrendered in California.