Angelina River Evacuations Lifted in Cherokee County

CHEROKEE COUNTY — Officials say Angelina River Bottom fire evacuees may return home, but Highway 21 is still closed to through traffic. Between 50 and 100 homes were evacuated on the Cherokee County side of the Angelina River on Tuesday. Nacogdoches County officials say that fire scorched about 3,500 acres in Nacogdoches and 1,000 acres in Cherokee County. It’s now said to be around 35 per cent contained. According to KETK, the fire managed to jump Highway 21 sometime during the night. Highway 21, west of Douglass, may remain closed today due to the fire burning on the Cherokee County side. County Road 3 has also been closed due to smoke and the number of emergency vehicles traveling that roadway.