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Indian River Co. deputies rescued 6 elderly residents from apartment fire

Posted at 10:40 PM, May 26, 2018
and last updated 2018-05-29 17:19:15-04

Six elderly people were rescued from an apartment fire by Indian River County Sheriff's Deputies early Saturday.

Fifteen people were displaced after the fire heavily damaged apartments at Vista Royale in southern Indian River County. 

The fire happened around 2 a.m. at Spring Lake, south of Fourth Street.

According to Indian River County Fire Rescue, all residents evacuated and no one was injured. 

Deputies Cameron White, Romeo Santana, and Sergeant Jeremy Shepherd arrived on scene and entered the apartment building, which was fully engulfed, and rescued the elderly residents. Some of the residents were carried out by the deputies.

The Indian River County Sheriff's Office says Deputy White was first on scene and had to be evaluated by Indian River County Fire Rescue for smoke inhalation.

Indian River County Sheriff Deryl Loar stated, "Had Deputy White, Deputy Santana, and Sergeant Shepherd not arrived on scene as fast as they did, we would have had casualties in that fire. As Fire Rescue arrived on scene, Deputy White and Sergeant Shepherd were clearing the last of the apartments, which were already filled with smoke and pieces of roof were falling on their heads. The deputies did not hesitate to enter the apartment and put their lives in danger to rescue the elderly residents."