Officials announced Monday afternoon that start and end times for River Ridge Middle and High schools will be changed this week because of smoke conditions.
School will begin Tuesday-Friday at 10:45 a.m., and classes will dismiss at about 5:10 p.m.
- Anclote Branch fire is in Starkey Wilderness Preserve
- Fire has grown to 2,275 acres, according to Florida Forest Service
- Brush fire coverage
The schools usually begin classes at 7:30. Cypress Elementary School will open at its normal time.
River Ridge buses will pick up students about three hours and 15 minutes later than usual. No other schools are affected.
Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning said the decision was made with the required number of hours students must attend class each year in mind.
The fire covers about 2,275 acres and is burning near Starkey Wilderness Preserve in Pasco County. It was 75 percent contained at 3 p.m. Monday.
Emergency officials said the area could see periods of heavy smoke for at least 30 days.
Officials have fined residents for violating the burn ban. The fines ranged last week from $500 to, in one case, $14,000.
The extended weather forecast isn't helping fire crews. No rain is in the forecast until the weekend.
Receiving update on fire and school closures. Emergency Mgt says we could see periods of heavy smoke for up to 45 days @BN9 pic.twitter.com/O2Nk2yX3l4
— Leah Masuda BN9 (@LeahMasuda) May 8, 2017
Fire officials have closed the park but the Suncoast Parkway was reopened on Sunday. Firefighters were able to keep the flames away from the highway Sunday. Crews are using big plows to carve a ring out around the fire – hoping to keep it inside that area.
Camping is canceled in Starkey Park through May 11.
The fire broke out Saturday in the Preserve. It was evacuated, and voluntary evacuations were ordered for the nearby Bexley Ranch subdivision. There were no injuries and no homes were threatened.
Pasco County Emergency Management said this weekend that if you are looking for a break from the dry conditions, you might be waiting a while. Not a lot of rain is in the forecast for the next week - at least the amount of rain it would take to stop these brush fires from spreading so quickly.