Liberty Hill wildfire grows, but evacuees allowed to return home

Authorities on Saturday evening were battling a wildfire near Liberty Hill that had as of 7:15 p.m. had grown to 250 acres and was prompting the evacuation of 200 homes, authorities said.

A shelter has been opened at Santa Rita Middle School (90 Santa Rita Blvd.) in Liberty Hill, about 25 miles northwest of Austin.

The Texas A&M Forest Service said on its Twitter feed that it was responding to what it was calling "San Gabriel Fire" with multiple crews, engines, four large air tankers and DC-10 jet carrying fire retardant. As of 7 p.m., the fire was 10% contained, the Williamson County Office of Emergency Management tweeted.

Update 9:15 p.m.: All evacuees are being allowed to return home, according to the Williamson County emergency management office; the fire has spread to 500 acres and is 25% contained, authorities tweeted.

Update, 1:30 p.m. Sunday: The fire is now 45% contained and has remained at 500 acres, the Williamson County emergency management office tweeted at 12:30. Also, Lake Georgetown and the walking trails around it have been closed until further notice while crews battle the wildfire in the area.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: San Gabriel fire in Liberty Hill, Texas, grows to 500 acres