Three people are injured and two displaced after an explosion at a barrier island apartment complex Thursday night.

About 10 p.m. Thursday, Indian River County Fire Rescue responded to an explosion at Sun & Sand apartment complex in the 900 block of Sandpiper Lane after a man attempted to help a husband and wife re-light the pilot light to their gas stove, officials said.

Flames were shooting out from the building and over tree tops when firefighters arrived, said Norman Wells, fire rescue battalion chief.

The man who was trying to help received third-degree burns over most of his body, and the woman received second-degree burns mostly to her face. Both were flown to Orlando for treatment.

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PORT ST. LUCIE — A fire early this month that destroyed a large home east of U.S. 1 near Prima Vista Boulevard is a case of arson, and an investigation into the incident is continuing, a top St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office official said.

The early morning Dec. 4 blaze in the 1000 block of Tilton Road ravaged the home of Raymond Roddy, 60, taking at least an hour for St. Lucie County Fire District crews to get under control.

“The fire marshal has made a determination that the fire out at Tilton Road was, in fact, arson,” sheriff’s Chief Deputy Garry Wilson said late Monday. “They are not ready to identify a suspect at this time.” A deputy was dispatched to a brush fire in the area of some apartments. The deputy noticed a “large glow” east of the apartments in the sky and found Roddy’s residence engulfed in flames.
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OKEECHOBEE COUNTY — A 4-acre brush fire damaged a hunting trailer in Fort Drum before firefighters doused the blaze, state officials said.

The fire was reported at 12:45 a.m. Monday, the Division of Forestry said. Forestry firefighters were able to quickly put out the fire.
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SEBASTIAN — An elderly Sebastian couple remain hospitalized with serious burns following a mid-day fire Monday in their duplex unit in the 1000 block of Louisiana Avenue.

Karen Baker, 68, and her husband, Jimmy Yates, 75, were taken to a burn treatment facility in Orlando after initially being treated at Health First in Melbourne, officials said.

Barker, who is an invalid on oxygen, had burns on about 45 percent of her body, said her daughter, Debora Wagner.
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ST. LUCIE COUNTY — With the swoop of a small plane carrying County Commission Chairwoman Paula Lewis and the splash of water cannons from fire trucks, St. Lucie County International Airport will christen its new 4,000-foot runway on Thursday.

The $15.3 million runway is about 2,500 feet northwest of the existing pair of runways. It has been under construction for more than a year.

“We had a lot to do,” Lewis said. “We moved power lines, we acquired a piece of property for light of sight from the control tower, and I’m excited that it’s finally finished.”
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PORT ST. LUCIE — Patients wanting to try out Martin Memorial’s freestanding emergency department in St. Lucie West should find their own ride.

St. Lucie County fire and rescue crews are bypassing the freestanding facility in favor of emergency departments at hospitals such as St. Lucie Medical Center and Lawnwood Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute.

“We’re evaluating what type of patients we will transport to that facility,” St. Lucie County Fire Chief Ron Parrish said. “We want to make sure the citizens of the community are going to get the best care in the most timely manner.”
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PORT ST. LUCIE — City property owners may be able to avoid a proposed 26 percent increase in their property taxes.

During a special meeting Wednesday, the City Council unanimously agreed to use half of the city’s general fund reserves to keep the property tax rate at its current rate of $4.22 per $1,000 of taxable value. The council will formally vote on setting the property tax rate during scheduled 7 p.m. public hearings Sept. 14 and Sept. 28 at City Hall.

Using the city’s median home price of $112,000 with a $50,000 homestead exemption, an average city property tax bill using the current rate would be $261, excluding taxes from other agencies, such as the school and fire districts.
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STUART — Have you ever wondered why some of those markers on the water are red and some are green?

And why are they different shapes, anyway? Why shouldn’t I just wait until I need my life jacket to put it on?

What is the minimum length of boat that requires a second fire extinguisher — or a third?

Answers to these and many other questions will be yours just for taking the time to attend the Coast Guard Auxiliary’s program, About Boating Safely.
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ST. LUCIE COUNTY — After weeks of police officer training in a classroom, Indian River State College students move on to a small platform that provides a high-tech simulation of how they react in a real-life situation.

They’re given a weapon that only emits lasers and equipped with a belt that zaps them if they put themselves in danger.

“It teaches consequences if they make bad decisions,” Stephen Huntsberger, associate dean of Public Service Education for IRSC, said of the VirTra Systems simulator at the complex.

The simulator is one of the planned demonstrations at Friday’s public open house at the new Indian River State College Public Safety Complex.
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PORT ST. LUCIE — A weekend blaze caused about $40,000 in fire damages to a home, but no injuries were reported, according to the St. Lucie County Fire District.

Fire District crews were dispatched at 3:33 a.m. Sunday to the blaze in the 2300 block of Addison Street, and had the fire under control 20 minutes later, the fire district stated.

Red Cross officials were called to assist the occupant.
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