Good morning, Eustis

It is Saturday, February 7, 2026, and Eustis is waking up to clear skies, fresh memories from last night’s downtown street party, and new information in a December explosion case.

New details in downtown explosion

Incident reports released this week by city responders shed more light on the December 4 gas explosion that killed downtown shop owner Wendy Davis. Investigators say a crew installing fiber‑optic lines struck an underground gas line beside the building, allowing gas to seep inside before the blast. The reports say the gas helped fuel the fire, while the exact spark is still under review by the state fire marshal. The storefront remains boarded up with a sidewalk memorial, and city staff say they are cooperating with the investigation and reviewing how utility work is coordinated.

First Friday packs downtown

Historic downtown was busy Friday evening as the monthly First Friday street party returned, closing Magnolia Avenue and North Eustis Street from 6 to 9 p.m. Families filled the blocks around City Hall, sampling food trucks, browsing vendors, and listening to live music in cool, dry air. The city bills First Friday as a free, family‑friendly way to support small businesses, with the next event scheduled for March 6.

Running of the Georges and kids’ race today

Ferran Park turns into a race course this morning for the Running of the Georges, part of the build‑up to the 124th Georgefest later this month. A one‑mile kids’ fun run lets younger residents join the action along the Lake Eustis shoreline. The races help spotlight this year’s “Camp Georgefest” theme before the February 21–28 festival, which will bring carnival rides, concerts, pageants, and the traditional parade back downtown.

Cold start, warmer weekend

After a frosty start Friday with near‑freezing readings in parts of Lake County, sunshine pushed afternoon highs into the low 60s. Forecasters expect a steady warmup, with highs near 70 today and the mid‑70s by Sunday before even milder weather arrives next week. Local officials are still sharing cold‑weather shelter information for anyone who needs a warm, safe place overnight.