HIGHLAND, Calif. — Some evacuations have been scaled back as crews battle the Line Fire in San Bernardino County on Friday.
Cal Fire said the wildfire burned about 37,963 acres and is 21% contained. The fire started amid an intense heat wave in Southern California.
Fire activity was less active overnight due to high moisture levels, according to Cal Fire.
The Line Fire is burning through dense vegetation that grew after two back-to-back wet winters that included snowstorms that caused tree branches to break, leaving behind a lot of “dead and down fuel,” said Cal Fire Operations Section Chief Jed Gaines.
The Big Bear Zoo had to move all its animals to a zoo in the city of Palm Desert to protect them from the wildfires and escalating temperatures, zoo officials said.
The fires have threatened tens of thousands of homes and other structures across Southern California since they escalated during a triple-digit heat wave. Weekend forecasts called for temperatures that reached triple digits last weekend to drop to the 70s.
The cooler weather that started mid-week was helping firefighters slowly gain the upper hand in battling the blazes. No deaths have been reported, but at least a dozen people, mainly firefighters, have been treated for injuries, mostly heat-related, authorities said.
Jason Anderson, district attorney for San Bernardino County, said Thursday that nine arson-related charges have been filed against Justin Wayne Halstenberg, who is accused of starting the Line Fire.
Anderson said Halstenberg, 34, attempted to start three fires within an hour in the city of Highland. Two fires were extinguished by firefighters and a good Samaritan. Officials said the third fire that Halstenberg started became the Line Fire.
“This is particularly galling in a community that unfortunately over the last couple of years has dealt with the scourge of wildfires,” he told reporters, adding that the suspect’s vehicle has been linked to three areas where the fires were started.
Halstenberg is due to be arraigned in court on Friday. The San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office didn't immediately respond to a Friday email from The Associated Press seeking information on an attorney for Halstenberg.
Halsternber's mother, Connie Halstenberg, told the Los Angeles Times that her son “did not light that fire.”
The full extent of the damage caused by the wildfires remains unclear but Anderson said at least one home has been destroyed by the blaze.
The fire started Sept. 5 around 6:30 p.m. near Baseline Road and Aplin Street in Highland, CA.
California is only now heading into the teeth of the wildfire season but already has seen nearly three times as much acreage burn than during all of 2023.
Links to Follow:
Evacuation Map
Find information on evacuation shelters and road closures HERE.
An evacuation map for San Bernardino County is available below.
Fire Map
This map from the National Interagency Fire Center shows fire activity (this may take a few seconds to load):
Wildfire Preps
If you live in a wildfire-prone zone, Cal Fire suggests creating a defensible space around your home. Defensible space is an area around a building in which vegetation and other debris are completely cleared. At least 100 feet is recommended.
The Department of Homeland Security suggests assembling an emergency kit that has important documents, N95 respirator masks, and supplies to grab with you if you’re forced to leave at a moment’s notice. The agency also suggests signing up for lvocal warning system notifications and knowing your community’s evacuation plans best to prepare yourself and your family in cases of wildfires.
Some counties use Nixle alerts to update residents on severe weather, wildfires, and other news. To sign up, visit www.nixle.com or text your zip code to 888777 to start receiving alerts.
PG&E customers can also subscribe to alerts via text, email, or phone call. If you're a PG&E customer, visit the Profile & Alerts section of your account to register.
What questions do you have about the latest wildfires? If you're impacted by the wildfires, what would you like to know? Text the ABC10 team at (916) 321-3310.
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