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San Bernardino County Fire: Sheriff Provides New Details on Arson Suspect Arrest

HIGHLAND, Calif. (KABC) — The day after a Norco man was arrested on suspicion of arson in connection with the massive Line Fire, San Bernardino County sheriff’s officials provided additional details about his arrest.

Justin Wayne Halstenberg, 34, was being held without bail on charges he started the fire Sept. 5 near Baseline Road in Highland.

Halstenberg was arrested Tuesday after authorities obtained a search warrant for him, authorities said at a news conference Wednesday.

“While we are still in the preliminary stages of the investigation, we believe this was intentional,” Sheriff Shannon Dicus told reporters. The motive for the alleged arson was still under investigation. Officials did not specify what was used to start the fire.

A Norco man has been arrested on arson charges in connection with the Line Fire, which has burned more than 34,000 acres in mountainous areas of San Bernardino County.

Part of Big Bear was evacuated Tuesday as the fire continued to spread.

According to the sheriff’s department, residents in the area of ​​the Big Bear Dam east of Wildrose Lane and the southern shoreline south of Bluff Lake Basin were told to leave. An evacuation order was also issued for communities including Running Springs, Forest Falls, Angelus Oaks and Wrightwood.

The fire blanketed the area in a thick cloud of dark smoke, providing shade for firefighters trying to beat gusts of wind expected later Wednesday, said Fabian Herrera, a spokesman for the Line Fire, which was 14% contained after 147 square kilometers (57 square miles) burned.

Two of the main routes into and out of Big Bear – Highway 18 from the west and Highway 38 from the east – were both closed.

Cal Fire Interactive Map

This interactive map from Cal Fire shows the latest evacuation orders and warnings, plus road closures and detours:

This 3D map, also from Cal Fire, shows the width of the fire area and also shows the most recent acreage.

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