A California man could spend the rest of his life behind bars after being found guilty of igniting the devastating Line Fire — a blaze that scorched 44,000 acres and forced thousands to flee mountain towns and suburban neighborhoods in Southern California last September.
Justin Halstenberg of Norco was convicted on seven felony counts related to the wildfire, along with two additional charges tied to a separate fire, according to the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office. His convictions include aggravated arson of forest land and property, and unlawful possession of flammable materials. Prosecutors say Halstenberg now faces a potential life sentence.
Authorities allege that Halstenberg made three separate attempts to start fires in the Highland hills near a residential area — all within the span of an hour. His first attempt was extinguished by firefighters, while a quick-thinking civilian stopped the second. But it was his third attempt, on Baseline Street in Highland, that sparked what became the Line Fire.
The inferno tore through the region with alarming speed, fueled by dry brush and sweltering temperatures. Entire communities — including Running Springs, Forest Falls, Arrowbear Lake, Angelus Oaks, Mountain Home Village, and parts of San Bernardino — were ordered to evacuate. In response, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for the area.
In a statement, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department called the verdict “a huge victory” for the City of Highland, mountain residents, and the firefighters who risked everything to protect lives and homes.