Helena Fire destroys over 70 homes, school closures announced

TRINITY COUNTY – The Helena fire has grown by over two thousand acres this past weekend, and school will be out for many Trinity County students due to the smoke.

The fire started last Wednesday, and is now nearly 9,000 acres.

So far, 72 homes and 61 other buildings have been destroyed.

Fire crews have contained 14% of the perimeter so far, but don’t expect to have full containment until the beginning of next month.

The Klamath Trinity County Joint Unified School District has announced that there will be no school Tuesday due to hazardous smoke conditions.

The Salmon August Complex Fire, burning in the Klamath National Forest, is posing threat to community members.

In the Klamath National Forest, the the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office has issued an evacuation order due to the Salmon August Complex for areas from Etna summit to Nordheimer Flat on Sawyers Bar Road.

They emphasize that the location of the shelter has changed from Etna High School to the Fort Jones Community Church.

The lightning-caused Salmon August Complex Fire has been burning since mid-august, and has scorched over 48 thousand acres.

It’s also 14% contained and has required the work of over 1,700 personnel.