Firefighters Gain More Ground at Linville Gorge

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.  
 
A community meeting is scheduled for today to inform communities near the fire about what's happened and what actions are being considered.

Linville Gorge is the third largest wilderness area in North Carolina.  It is located in the Pisgah National Forest, about 120 miles west of Winston-Salem.

WFDD's Steve Biddle contributed to this article.