Line Fire Threatens Big Bear, 65K+ Homes: 'We Have A Plan,' Chief Says

INLAND EMPIRE, CA — Evacuation orders and warnings remained in place Wednesday evening for nearly 100,000 residents, and more than 65,000 buildings are under threat as the massive Line Fire tears through the San Bernardino Mountains, authorities said Wednesday.

Fire crews have battled the fire for six days, contending with steep terrain and unfavorable weather conditions. According to Cal Fire, the flames had burned 37,207 acres by Thursday morning, and containment held steady at 18 percent.

More than 3,000 fire personnel are assigned to the Line Fire, and Cal Fire said crews on the ground faced significant hurdles from tough terrain and high heat. Batallion Chief Jed Gaines said recent wet winters lent to thick grass and broken tree branches, creating heavy fire fuels in an area with little to no recent fire history.

At least 65,600 buildings remained threatened by the fire's path Wednesday, and fire officials were investigating reports that one building had burned in the Running Springs area. Cal Fire said a U.S. Forest Service fire watch tower was confirmed to be destroyed.

Additionally, the fire impacted key radio towers on Keller Peak, including major communication channels for the fire incident, San Bernardino National Forest, and Alert California cameras.

According to the sheriff, deputies had confirmed that 5,490 of the homes covered by evacuation orders were vacated. Dicus said no one answered the door at another 4,631 homes that were visited, and residents at 714 homes told authorities they planned to stay.

Near Big Bear, where residents were evacuating from the south shore, Cal Fire said overnight drone and infrared imaging showed flames within a couple of miles of the lake.

Protecting the Big Bear community and surrounding forest area is a priority for firefighters, said Operations Section Chief Jeremy Pierce.

In an operational update early Wednesday afternoon, Pierce said fire crews, bulldozers and other equipment were deployed in the area and actively preparing to protect nearby communities as flames from a spot fire continued to move northeast.

For more than a decade, U.S. Forest Service crews have worked to turn a plateau to the southeast of Big Bear Lake into a bulwark to protect the community from wildfires.

So far it has held.

The flames have shot up the steep canyon sides, and "as the fire hits the rim, they are putting it out," he said.

"The Forest Service has put a tremendous amount of work up there in that area for 10 years - spent a tremendous amount of money to safeguard these communities," Pierce added. "It's super important for us to protect that area as well as the rest of this forest.

"It's been a great success. It's a great plan. We are really confident in that plan. It's continuing to work," he said.

"We do expect it to hit the plateau in the next day," Pierce warned. "The communities of Big Bear may start to see some heavy smoke and some heavy fire activity, but know this: We do have resources up there, we're expecting it, we have a plan and we have some very high success rates up in that area with our plan that we have in mind."

Though dry heat and wind have spurred fire growth in recent days, officials said they were hopeful a favorable shift in the weather on the horizon would provide lower temps and higher humidity to help crews gain a foothold.

"Over the next three or four days, we expect our weather to come more in our favor, Pierce said. "It'll help us with that entire community."

According to Cal Fire, cooler weather and "smoke shading" helped reduce some fire activity overnight, and thick smoke could continue to prove beneficial by reducing temperatures on the ground even as other challenges persist.

"Today elevated winds and continued dry conditions will allow the fire to grow," Cal Fire said Wednesday. "Smoke from across the region will help moderate fire activity unless the skies clear and the smoke thins."

• See the latest evacuation updates here. The link contains information about evacuation centers for humans and animals.

Alleged arsonist arrested; 2 accused of burglarizing evacuated homes

Investigators believe the fire was intentionally set, and Justin Wayne Halstenberg, 34, was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of arson. The San Bernardino Sheriff's Department said Halstenberg was living in Norco and worked as a contract delivery driver for FedEx.

During a news conference Wednesday, San Bernardino Sheriff Shannon Dicus said an automated license plate reader helped lead investigators to Halstenberg, and a search of his truck and home uncovered evidence relevant to the case.

Dicus said detectives were also looking into whether Halstenberg may be responsible for other fires in the area. Investigators were unable to share details about how the fire ignited, but said that was one component being examined for potential connections to other fires.

"I believe in my heart of hearts...once everything is said and done and we actually forensically take a closer look at this case, we're going to find out that this person was probably responsible for more fires than what we are aware of at this point," added Dicus.

Halstenberg is being held in lieu of an $80,000 bail bond and is due to appear in court Thursday, according to jail records.

Separately, the sheriff said two people were arrested on suspicion of breaking into a home in Running Springs thousands of residents fled to safety.

"While we were in that area, there were a couple people who decided to loot a house, and they're in jail," Dicus, said garnering loud applause from residents during a community briefing Wednesday night.

"I'm drawing a line in the sand when it comes to things like this. If you're going to be an opportunist in San Bernardino County, and we catch you, you are going to jail."