A suspect pleaded not guilty to starting the Line wildfire in San Bernardino County which turned into a huge conflagration that forced the evacuation of thousands of homes.
Online court records showed that The suspect, Justin Wayne Halstenberg, 34, pleaded not guilty this Tuesday from prison in a video appearance in the city of Rancho Cucamonga.
According to records, The subject was denied bail and a lawyer was assigned to handle his case.
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It was scheduled for Monday an upcoming court hearing for Halstenbergand the lawyer who will take his case was informed by email.
Halstenberg is accused of 11 charges related to arsoncourt records showed.
Authorities said the suspect, who is a delivery driver for the city of Norco, He tried to start three fires in the space of an hour.: two that were extinguished by firefighters and a good Samaritan, and a third that became the Line Fire, which has scorched 39,181 acres.
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According to authorities, Halstenberg’s vehicle was linked to the locations where the fires began on September 5.
The Line Fire Threatened more than 65,000 homes and injured four firefightersIt is one of three wildfires that broke out this month in Southern California after a dangerous heat wave that brought temperatures into the triple digits.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the fire that started in the Highland area, had spread across 39,181 acres in San Bernardino County and was 50% contained.
Airport fire 31% contained
The Airport Fire, which has burned 23,519 acres in Orange and Riverside counties, was 31% contained, According to the most recent Cal Fire updatethis Wednesday afternoon.
The containment zone reinforced against the advance of the flames included Lake Elsinore, Decker Canyon Road and Lakeland Village.
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The coldest temperature records They helped the firefighters with their work.
There has been a danger with the power cables that have fallen and firefighters were working with utility companies on Ortega Highway to find hot spots and make necessary repairs.
In Orange County, Residents of Caspers Regional Park, San Juan Springs and Blue Jay Camp were ordered to evacuate.; while a larger number of neighborhoods were under evacuation orders and evacuation warnings in Riverside County.
Bridge Fire begins to give way
The authorities Evacuation orders downgraded to warnings for Bridge Firewhich by Wednesday afternoon stretched across 54,795 acres and was 41% contained by Wednesday afternoon.
Tanker planes extinguished hot spots around the southeast corner of the fire zone, while secondary containment lines were established on the south side.
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To the east, firefighters were raising a line, from Wright Mountain, to prevent the flames from reaching Lytle Creekwhile the northwest flank of the fire still had some scattered flames.
The Bridge Fire has destroyed 73 structures and caused damage to another 16.
Keep reading:
· Federal resources to fight fires in California
· Public works crews spark fire in Orange County
· Fire evacuation orders in Orange County