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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, ...

‘No swimming’ advisory lifted for beaches, officials say

VERO BEACH — Authorities lifted a 'no swimming' advisory for three local beaches Tuesday after test samples showed that bacteria returned to normal levels, health department and city officials said. The result means it was safe to return to the water Tuesday, Vero Beach city officials said. The advisory - which was in place for nearly a week - was issued Jan. 31 for South Beach, Humiston Beach and Sexton Plaza Beach after high levels of fecal-related bacteria were reported at the locations. Environmental specialists with the Florida Department of Health in Indian River County collected water samples at the beaches Monday and on Jan. 28. The more recent collection of samples - tested at the Flowers Chemical Laboratory in Port St. ...

Saturday house fire ruled accidental

Photo provided by Indian River County Fire Rescue VERO BEACH — A Saturday blaze that originated in a garage and spread to a home - where a family of six escaped unharmed - was ruled accidental, fire rescue officials said. The state fire marshal determined the fire was an accident, Indian River County Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Kyle Kofke said. The blaze displaced a grandmother, mother and four children. Details on what sparked the flames were not immediately available. Fire crews responded to the blaze about 1 p.m. Saturday at a home in the 1700 block of Highland Avenue, Vero Beach. Crews saw heavy smoke and flames coming from the roof, Kofke said. Authorities blocked Highland Avenue for a little more than ...