The Line Fire continues to burns near Highland and other mountain communities, sending smoke and haze into the Morongo Basin. Currently burning 34,289 acres, as of last night (September 10) the fire is 14% contained.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department has arrested a Norco man suspected of starting the Line Fire.
Last night, detectives with the Sheriff’s Highland Station arrested Justin Halstenberg, a 34 year-old resident of Norco, on suspicion of arson. The Sheriff’s Department says that Halstenberg started a fire in the area of Baseline Road and Alpin Street in the city of Highland on Thursday, (September 5).
Justin Halstenberg was booked in the Central Detention Center on $80,000 bail.
As of yesterday, the area of Big Bear from the dam east to Wildrose Lane and the south shoreline south to Bluff Lake Basin is under an evacuation order. According to the County, SR-18 to Lucerne Valley is the only open road for evacuation.
Line Fire updates at CalFire: https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2024/9/5/line-fire
