The 34-year-old Norco man arrested on suspicion of starting the Line Fire raging in San Bernardino County tried multiple times to start a blaze before succeeding, prosecutors allege.
The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office filed criminal charges against Justin Wayne Halstenberg on Thursday. He faces multiple counts of arson, including using incendiary devices to start fires and arson causing serious bodily injury. Prosecutors said additional charges could be filed for any additional structural damage or injuries as the fire continues.
“The devastation that has occurred because of the alleged actions of one man cannot be undone,” District Attorney Jason Anderson said in a statement, adding that “37,000 acres of forest land and mountain communities may never again be what they once were.”
“I am hopeful that through the investigative efforts of our law enforcement partners and the thorough prosecution of this case, we can provide some measure of justice,” he said.
The man’s mother defended her son, telling The Times on Thursday that he “did not start this fire.”
A helicopter drops water on the Line Fire Monday in Mentone, Calif.
(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
Connie Halstenberg made the comment in a text message response to the Times in which she said she does not speak to the press.
But she said, “I want to say this about my little boy. He didn’t start that fire, I repeat, he didn’t start that fire.”
She said there are things her son does that she doesn’t approve of, but that “he’s not an arsonist.”
In filing charges, prosecutors said Halstenberg attempted to start multiple fires within an hour in the town of Highland. His first alleged attempt occurred at Bacon and Lytle Lanes. That fire was reported and extinguished by local firefighters.
Justin Wayne Halstenberg, 34, is being held without bail and is scheduled to be arraigned Friday in Rancho Cucamonga Superior Court.
(San Bernardino County Sheriff)
Prosecutors said he made a second attempt on Bacon Lane, near Base Line and Aplin streets. They said the fire was put out by a good Samaritan.
“Undeterred, he started a third fire that we now know as the Line Fire,” prosecutors said in the statement.
Three firefighters were injured in the first two days of the blaze. At least one structure was destroyed and three others were damaged, but none were homes, according to San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus. He said the fire affected about 100,000 county residents.
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Battalion Chief Matt Kirkhart, who oversees the law enforcement investigative unit, said arson investigators responded to the fire that day to determine the origin and cause of the fire.
Flames from the Line Fire reach treetops Tuesday in Running Springs, California.
(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
He said investigators immediately began combing through videos taken by traffic cameras and license plate readers to try to develop a lead. They were joined by detectives from the sheriff’s department. Kirkhart said investigators were at one point able to identify a white truck, which led them to the suspect.
Sheriff’s Detective Jake Hernandez said Halstenberg was taken into custody Tuesday at his home in the 1000 block of Detroit Street in Norco, where a search was conducted.
Halstenberg, who remains jailed without bail, is scheduled to be arraigned Friday in Rancho Cucamonga Superior Court.
