NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. - Two Pasco County schools will delay the first bell on Wednesday due to a fire in the Starkey area.
What we know:
According to a letter that was sent to parents on Tuesday night, River Ridge Middle School and River Ridge High School will begin three hours later on Wednesday.
School will start at 10:10 a.m. and will end at the regular end time of 1:30 p.m.
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The school says it made the decision to ensure the safety of students and staff.
The backstory:
Emergency Management officials said that a helicopter has been assisting with water drops from nearby ponds to help fight a fire in the Starkey area and there is a strong possibility that the River Ridge area will experience a significant amount of smoke in the early morning depending on overnight conditions.
What's next:
Information about transportation pick-up times will be shared directly with the families.
The Source: This article was written with information from a letter that was sent to the families of River Ridge Middle and High Schools.