The Line Fire, which continues to rage across southern California, has been alleged to have started by a man who is currently facing arson charges. However, the accused’s mother stands firm in her belief that her son, Justin Wayne Halstenberg, is innocent of these allegations and that he did not start the fire. Despite the authorities working diligently to find evidence connecting him to multiple intentionally-set fires, Connie Halstenberg maintains her son’s innocence, stating “he did not light that fire.
Halstenberg has been formally charged with multiple counts of arson by San Bernardino County prosecutors. These charges include using incendiary devices to start fires and causing great bodily injury. The ongoing blaze began on September 5th and has spread across over 38,000 acres of forested land, with Cal Fire reporting that it is only 25% contained as of Saturday. This fire was believed to have sparked other fires in the region, leading to evacuation orders for residents in the area.
Nearby, The Bridge Fire has grown to nearly 53,000 acres since it started a week ago and remains at 0% containment according to Cal Fire data. Additional charges may still be filed, depending on the extent of damage caused by the ongoing fire.
Investigators claim that Halstenberg attempted to start multiple fires within a single hour in the city of Highland, located 65 miles east of Los Angeles. The first fire was reported and extinguished by firefighters at Bacon and Lytle lanes. Shortly after, prosecutors say Halstenberg tried again just east of Bacon Lane, but a passerby spotted the fire and managed to stomp it out before any significant damage occurred. Detectives recovered an incendiary device and other critical evidence from both his home and car.
Halstenberg’s work as a FedEx contract delivery driver had him traveling throughout San Bernardino County, prompting authorities to examine past fires in the county and compare their dates and times with data obtained from his FedEx truck’s GPS. As the investigation continues, it remains to be seen whether concrete evidence will emerge that can irrefutably link Halstenberg to these destructive fires or if the true culprit still evades capture.
