Hole blown in roof of house in Vero Highlands

Woman suffers severe burns to arms, legs in food truck explosion at festival

VERO BEACH — A 53-year-old woman suffered severe burns to her arms and legs after her food truck exploded shortly before the start of the Vero Beach Seafood Festival on Saturday, officials said. Indian River County Fire Rescue crews said the incident was the result of a propane explosion. Vero Beach police officers responded to the incident at 8:56 a.m. at Riverside Park. Witnesses reported smelling propane moments before the food truck exploded, Vero Beach police spokesperson Master Officer Darrell Rivers said. The explosion caused a flash fire, which quickly burned itself out before fire crews arrived, Assistant Fire Chief Sean Gibbons said. The woman, who was in the truck when it exploded, was flown to Orlando Regional Medical Center, ...

Low beach attendance for January; no water rescues

VERO BEACH — While chilly temperatures caused a drop in beach attendance last month, lifeguards are happy to report that there were no water rescues that occurred in January. "It's a great thing," Vero Beach Lifeguard Association officials said in a statement. "We hope people are paying attention to lifeguards and condition signs before they go into the water." The Vero Beach Lifeguard Association recently released its monthly report for the beaches at Jaycee Park, Humiston Park and South Beach Park. Lifeguards said about 54,105 beachgoers flocked to the shore in January. The highest beach-attendance record of 65,700 was set in 2019 for Vero Beach, lifeguards said. The record low for beach attendance was set in 2016 with 36,000 people, ...

Lightning strike causes tree branch, power line to fall through roof; man displaced

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A man was displaced Thursday afternoon after a lightning strike sent a tree branch and a power line crashing through the roof of his home, fire rescue crews said. No injuries were reported, Indian River County Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Kyle Kofke said. The incident happened about 3 p.m. Thursday at Midway Estates mobile home park in south county, Kofke said. The lightning struck a tree, causing a branch to break off and pull down a power line. The branch and power line fell through the roof of the home, creating a large hole, Kofke said. The man - the only person inside - was not hurt. Florida Power & Light Co. disconnected power to the ...