Arson suspect Justin Wayne Halstenberg has been arrested in connection with a California wildfire that has engulfed over 37,000 acres in San Bernardino County. Authorities believe he set off three fires in total on the same day, with one of them escalating into the destructive Line Fire, which has been burning for eight days. Halstenberg has been charged with nine felony counts related to the Line Fire, including aggravated arson and arson resulting in bodily harm. He faces a potential sentence of 10 years to life in prison if convicted.
Records show that Halstenberg also has an active court case in Riverside County for drug-related charges and failed to appear in court, resulting in a warrant being issued for his arrest. The ongoing investigation may lead to additional charges depending on the extent of property damage and any injuries or deaths associated with the fires. Officials suspect that Halstenberg intentionally started the fire that led to the Line Fire and were able to locate him through an automatic license plate reader.
The Line Fire is one of three major wildfires currently affecting Southern California during a heatwave. The California Governor has declared a state of emergency, and the National Guard has been authorized to assist with firefighting efforts. Progress has been made in containing the Airport Fire in Orange County, while the Bridge Fire in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties remains active. Despite property damage, no deaths have been reported in any of the fires.
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