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Officials: Residents are not in danger of Table Rock wildfire

A meeting just ended hours ago in which officials assured neighbors who live near the Table Rock wildfire that they are not in any danger.

Police are still looking for a man in a photo, carrying a guitar and standing by a white truck. He may have information about what started the fire that's burned 2,600 acres in the Linville Gorge.

On Thursday night, dozens of people in Burke County met with firefighters at a meeting organized by the U.S. Forest Service.
They shared their tactics and let residents know they are not in any immediate danger.
Several people who attended the meeting said they support the efforts of the 200 firefighters trying to stop the wildfire and appreciated the new information.

BURKE COUNTY, N.C. — Firefighters said 2,579 acres have burned with about 50 percent of the fire is contained. Officials said about 200 personnel members have worked the fire.

The U.S. Forest Service says firefighters gained a little more ground on the Linville Gorge blaze thanks to efforts to rid the area of unburned fuel and favorable weather.

Officials said workers burned a 100-acre block on Wednesday to aid in slowing the fire's progress.

Despite more favorable conditions to limit growth, a combination of fog and light winds may create reduced visibilities near the fire Thursday night and Friday morning.  The forest service said people driving through the area during those times should watch for rapidly changing conditions and use extreme caution.  A cold front will move through Saturday with colder temperatures, windy conditions and lower humidity.

Firefighters hope the light winds and high humidity over the next few days will keep the wildfire from growing too much.

The firefighters will lay out their next steps and explain what they consider when they make decisions.

For more on the Table Rock wildfire, click here.

To see more Chopper video and slideshows, click here.

WSOC

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