California man arrested for starting devastating fire that has torched tens of thousands of acres

A California man has been arrested after he allegedly started the devastating San Bernardino Line Fire that has torched tens of thousands of acres and caused mass evacuations. 

Justin Halstenberg, 34, was accused by police this week of igniting the fires on September 5, however detectives have not revealed how he allegedly started the blaze. 

The Line Fire has so far spread across 34,000 acres east of Los Angeles, bringing in over 2,100 firefighters and first responders as thousands of residents evacuated. 

Halstenberg has been charged with arson of an inhabited structure, arson of forest land and possession of flammable material, and was slapped with an $80,000 bail. 

Justin Halstenberg was arrested after he allegedly started the devastating San Bernadino Line Fire that has torched tens of thousands of acres and caused mass evacuations near LA 

The Line Fire has so far spread across 34,000 acres east of Los Angeles , bringing in over 2,100 firefighters and first responders. As of Thursday evening, just 14 percent was contained 

As of Thursday evening, just 14 percent of the Line Fire had been contained by firefighters, according to California Fire. 

Police said they zeroed in on Halstenberg as the alleged culprit as Highland Station detectives linked him to the ignition site at Baseline Road and Alpin Street. 

According to his LinkedIn profile, Halstenberg works as a delivery driver for FedEx and lives in the Norco, California area. 

Authorities are continuing their investigation and urge anyone with further information to contact the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. 

With only a fraction of the Line Fire contained, forecasters warned that it could continue to spread as incoming winds could drop humidity levels and cause it to expand. 

The fast-paced fires have already been a challenge for crews to halt, and the Line Fire reportedly grew to 1180 acres (about 4.8 square km) within a 24 hour period. 

Just a fraction of the Line Fire is contained as fire crews have struggled against conditions 

The Line Fire continues burning in the San Bernardino National Forests mountains over Highland, California

A member of a bulldozer fire crew watches the advancing Line Fire in Mentone

Firefighters have also struggled to douse the blaze due to challenging, steep terrain in the area, and at least three responders have reportedly been injured during their efforts. 

Although the fires threaten at least 65,000 structures, much of the inferno has burned on fields and mountainous areas, and just one home is said to have been destroyed so far. 

Images from the area show huge plumes of acrid smoke filling the area east of Los Angeles, which is known to be a popular hiking and outdoors spot. 

California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency over the Line Fire to allow more state resources to be funneled towards fire crews. 

On Monday, the California National Guard was also called into San Bernardino County to help evacuation areas. 

Flames from the Line Fire ignite over a residence Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Highland, California

Fire crews monitor the Line Fire, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Running Springs

The Line Fire jumps Highway 330 as an emergency vehicle is driven past Saturday, Sept. 7

Capt. John Clingingsmith Jr. of Riverside County Fire said the fires have been challenging due to the steep terrain up here and the vegetation and the way it’s burning

He explained that to contain the fires, we put a little bit of fire on the ground up here on our road that we’re trying to hold and burn slowly downhill toward on our main fire, close that down a little bit and what that creates is called a black line. 

It’s basically everything that’s burnt up and slows the fire down and helps us get a containment line, Clingingsmith said.