| Line Fire | |
| Area: | 43978acres |
| Coordinates: | 34.121°N -117.155°W |
| Pushpin Map: | USA California |
| Pushpin Map Alt: | Refer to caption |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | The general location of the fire, in Southern California |
| Cause: | Arson |
| Image Map Caption: | The area burned by the Line Fire |
| Fatalities: | 0 |
| Injuries: | 6 |
| Buildings: | 4 |
The Line Fire is a large active wildfire in San Bernardino County, Southern California. The fire began on September 5, 6:33 PM near the community of Highland and spread into the San Bernardino National Forest. The fire has forced the evacuation of multiple communities. On September 10, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department identified and arrested 34-year-old Justin Wayne Halstenberg, a resident of Norco, on suspicion of starting the fire on September 5.[1] [2], the Line Fire remains at 43978acres and is still 98 percent contained.
The cause of the fire is believed to be arson.[3] It began during a multiple-day heatwave in Southern California. Downtown Los Angeles reached 112F, the third time that temperature had been reached since 1877.[4]
The Line Fire ignited on September 5th at around 6:00 p.m. PST along Baseline Road,[5] near its intersection with Alpin Street in East Highlands. The fire was originally named the Baseline Fire. The fire spread from that point into the San Bernardino National Forest.[6] The CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 3 was activated on September 6th.[7]
As of October 24th, there have been 4 confirmed damaged structures, 1 confirmed destroyed structures, and 6 confirmed injuries. [19]
| Sep 5[20] | 172acres | - | ||
| Sep 6[21] | 3300acres | - | ||
| Sep 7[22] | 7122acres | 628 | ||
| Sep 8[23] | 17459acres | 1,855 | ||
| Sep 9[24] | 23714acres | 1,890 | ||
| Sep 10[25] | 32905acres | 2,684 | ||
| Sep 11[26] | 36481acres | 3,158 | ||
| Sep 12[27] | 37589acres | 3,398 | ||
| Sep 13[28] | 38074acres | 3,993 | ||
| Sep 15[29] | 38421acres | 4,103 | ||
| Sep 21[30] | 39232acres | 2,956 | ||
| Sep 29[31] | 40219acres | 1,195 | ||
| Oct 01[32] | 43492acres | 1,776 | ||
| Oct 08[33] | 43978acres | 1,651 |
On September 7th, the fire began to expand rapidly into the San Bernardino Mountains, prompting evacuation orders for the communities of Running Springs and Arrowbear Lake.[7] Governor Newsom declared a State of Emergency in San Bernardino County, authorizing the use of a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). [8]
Also rain helped the Line Fire on September 7-8, 2024, with combination of rain and smoke.
The California National Guard was deployed, including four UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters, two C-130 aircraft, hand crews, and one military police company to assist with evacuations.[9]
On September 29th, the fire saw a large flare up as it burned through the Bear Creek and Santa Ana River drainages. The increase in fire activity prompted evacuation orders for the communities of Seven Oaks and Angelus Oaks.[10]
, the fire remains at 43978acres and is still 98 percent contained.
The Line Fire has led to mandatory evacuation orders for more than 500 homes. Initial evacuation warnings were issued for neighborhoods in East Highland in the early morning of September 6, 2024.[11] By September 7, 2024, evacuation orders would be placed for neighborhoods along the foothills, extending into San Bernardino, and for neighborhoods east of Calle Del Rio.[12]
Over the following days the mountain communities of Green Valley Lake, Cedar Glen, Lake Arrowhead, Crestline, Valley of Enchantment, and Big Bear Valley were placed under evacuation warnings.[13] Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for Running Springs, Arrowbear Lake, Angelus Oaks, Seven Oaks, Forest Falls, and Mountain Home Village.[14]
The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued an advisory on September 6th, warning of health impacts in areas affected by windblown smoke. On September 9th, Rim of the World Unified School District closed campuses to students. Redlands Unified School District and Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District closed all campuses to both students and staff. These closures would be extended through the end of the week on (Friday, September 13th).[15]
San Bernardino Community College District closed both of their campuses September 9th-13th, 2024, and the University of Redlands temporarily transitioned all classes online.
On September 9th, the Redlands Municipal Airport was closed to non-emergency aircraft. It was later reopened on September 20th. [16] On October 1, the Big Bear City Airport was closed on to non-fire-fighting aircraft due to increased fire activity. It has since reopened.
On September 7th CAL FIRE issued a warning against flying UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) in or around wildfires, reporting that there had been two separate drone incursions into the Line Fire the previous day.[17]