San Gabriel fire: Airtanker drops retardant on 250-acre wildfire in Liberty Hill
FOX 7 Austin’s Meredith Aldis is on the scene of the San Gabriel fire.
LIBERTY HILL, Texas – The San Gabriel wildfire in Liberty Hill is now about 500 acres and currently 25 percent contained, officials say. All evacuees can return home.
Twenty-two agencies are responding to the fire on Tower Road, including the Liberty Hill Fire Department, Travis County STAR Flight and the Texas A&M Forest Service, which is responding with multiple crews, bulldozers, engines and aircraft, including the DC-10, four large tanker planes and three fire chiefs.
Texas A&M Forest Service says aviation is dropping water and retardant to slow the fire’s progress. Authorities say the fire has been contained to FM 3405 and is not in danger of crossing the highway.
Click here to view videos and photos submitted by viewers from around the area.
San Gabriel Fire Evacuation Map as of 6:30pm Saturday
The cause of the fire is currently unknown. Officials say it started in the 2200 block of Tower Road and moved northeast.
Everyone within a two-mile radius was evacuated. So far 200 homes have been evacuated, according to Williamson County Emergency Services. Santa Rita Middle School has been a shelter for evacuees. Pets are allowed at the shelter.
RELATED COVERAGE
Lake Georgetown has also been evacuated and firefighting planes are landing on the water according to witness videos sent to FOX 7 Austin.
FOX 7 Austin’s Meredith Aldis is on the scene and reports the fire is not expected to be contained tonight. So far there have been no deaths or loss of structures.
This story is developing. Check back for updates.