RANCHO CUCAMONGA — A California man has pleaded not responsible to beginning a hearth that authorities mentioned ballooned into a large wildfire and compelled the evacuation of hundreds of houses.
Justin Wayne Halstenberg, 34, of Norco, was charged with 9 felony arson counts on Sept. 12, 2024, associated to the Line brush hearth burning within the San Bernardino Mountains. (Brian Rokos, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
On-line courtroom data present Justin Wayne Halstenberg, 34, entered the plea from jail in a video arraignment Tuesday within the San Bernardino metropolis of Rancho Cucamonga. He was denied bail and appointed an lawyer, the data present.
Halstenberg is charged with 11 arson-related crimes, the data present. Authorities mentioned the supply driver from the city of Norco tried to start out three fires inside an hour — two that had been extinguished by firefighters and a very good Samaritan and a 3rd that turned the Line Fireplace, which has charred 61 sq. miles (158 sq. kilometers) within the mountains east of Los Angeles.
Authorities have mentioned Halstenberg’s car has been tied to areas the place the fires had been began on Sept. 5.
The Line Fireplace threatened greater than 65,000 houses and injured 4 firefighters. It’s one in all three wildfires that exploded throughout Southern California this month following a triple-digit warmth wave.
Initially Revealed: September 17, 2024 at 10:45 a.m.
