Firefighters in Southern California’s mountain region battled the flare-up of a monthlong arson fire on Sept. 29 as flames made a run up a dry river drainage.
The Line fire in San Bernardino County, about 100 miles west of Los Angeles, sparked on Sept. 5 and has grown to nearly 68 square miles in the mountains of San Bernardino National Forest.
“The last few days of above normal temperatures have dried out both the vegetation and moisture from the air,” the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) wrote in a Sept. 30 update. “Firefighters had expected some movement along the open line in this area; however, fire behavior exceeded expectations.”
Cal Fire reported that dry vegetation, steep slopes, and wind in the region also fueled the flames.
The fire is about 80 percent contained, according to fire officials.
The Seven Oaks community, an unincorporated resort village in the San Bernardino Mountains about 110 miles south of Los Angeles, remains under evacuation orders. The Angelus Oaks and Boulder Bay area of the resort town of Big Bear were under evacuation warnings on Sept. 30.
The fire has destroyed one house and damaged four others.
Four people have been injured during the incident, according to Cal Fire.
Fire crews will continue to focus on the Santa Ana River drainage on Sept. 30, Cal Fire reported.
More crews and equipment were moved into the area, including four night-flying helicopters that were dropping water on the drainage.
The fire is being managed by the San Bernardino National Forest, San Bernardino County Fire, Cal Fire’s San Bernardino unit, and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office.
According to the U.S. Forest Service, the second area with active fire activity was the Bear and Siberia creek drainages. Crews were able to put in a fire break in that area.
More resources and equipment were expected to arrive on Sept. 30.
San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and fire investigators arrested Justin Wayne Halstenberg, 34, of Norco, on Sept. 10 on suspicion of starting the Line fire in the area of Baseline Road and Aplin Street in Highland.
Based on evidence received in the investigation, the district attorney said his office believed that the defendant attempted to ignite multiple fires within an hour.
“The devastation that has unfolded due to the alleged actions of one man cannot be undone,” Anderson wrote in the statement.
Southern California is expected to get even hotter weather this week.
The weather service has issued a heat advisory for the county starting on Oct. 1 and ending on the night of Oct. 2.
Fires throughout the state this summer have caused extensive damage to homes and property.
Cal Fire and other fire agencies working in the state have responded to 6,500 wildfires this year that involved nearly 1,600 square miles combined.
The state secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency earlier this month to help get resources to suppress the fire.
The fire started on Sept. 8 and scorched less than one square mile. It was extinguished within three days, according to Cal Fire.
Newsom’s emergency proclamation, which will help residents affected by the fire to receive unemployment benefits, waives fees to replace documents, such as driver’s licenses and birth certificates. It also speeds up debris removal and cleanup of hazardous waste from the fire.
