A 35-year-old man from Norco has been found guilty of starting the Line fire, which burned approximately 44,000 acres in the San Bernardino Mountains and injured six firefighters. Justin Halstenberg was convicted on seven counts related to the fire and two counts for a subsequent blaze, according to the San Bernardino County district attorney’s office. His charges include aggravated arson and possession of flammable materials.
The Line fire began on September 5, 2024, and quickly escalated, leading to the evacuation of over 11,000 residents and causing significant property damage. Investigators linked Halstenberg to the fire through an automatic license-plate reader that identified his truck near the fire’s starting point. He was arrested just five days later at his family’s home, located about 20 miles from the ignition site.
Prosecutors accused Halstenberg of deliberately igniting three fires within an hour in Highland, California. The first two fires were quickly extinguished by firefighters and a bystander. However, the third fire, which he set at the intersection of Base Line and Aplin streets, developed into the Line fire.
Despite the evidence against him, Halstenberg pleaded not guilty, with his mother publicly defending him, claiming he did not start the fire. During the trial, prosecutors argued that Halstenberg had previously practiced starting fires using a makeshift ignition device. Detectives found a similar device at the Line fire’s origin.
Halstenberg now faces a potential life sentence in prison when he is sentenced later this year. San Bernardino County Supervisor Dawn Rowe commended the efforts of law enforcement and fire officials, emphasizing the importance of holding arsonists accountable for their destructive actions.