Machine fire forces evacuation of Vero Beach Walmart Supercenter
Corey Arwood
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A mechanical fire led to a nearly hourlong evacuation of the Vero Beach Walmart Supercenter Wednesday evening, a fire official said.
A compactor caught fire and filled a back room with smoke around 4:45 p.m., said Indian River County Fire Rescue Chief Tad Stone.
Workers and customers gathered in the store parking lot off State Route 60 near 58th Avenue until roughly 5:30 p.m. when firefighters gave clearance for everyone to return inside.
Indian River County Sheriff’s Office deputies cordoned off the store's front entrance and blocked its roadway.
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Firefighters gathered at the back loading dock area on the southeast corner of the building.
Stone said they had to use water to extinguish the compactor, but there were no immediate reports of injuries from fire or smoke inhalation.
Corey Arwood is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Corey on Twitter @coreyarwood, or reach him by phone at 772-978-2246.