A man charged with starting the Line Fire was back in court this week, as prosecutors revealed new details about the cause of the blaze during the preliminary hearing at the San Bernardino Justice Center this week.
San Bernardino County Sheriff’s detectives testified that they stopped 34-year-old Justin Wayne Halstenberg in his white pickup truck and arrested him outside his house.
Cal Fire investigators also testified, stating that Halstenberg allegedly used paper to start the fire, which remains active. Surveillance footage from a nearby fire station, residents and a passing Tesla captured Halstenberg’s truck near the origin of the fire.
Investigators found coins and razor blades at the scene, leading them to conclude that Halstenberg may have used them to bind paper or napkins, which he then lit to start the fire. A forensic scientist testified in court that the coins had his DNA.
Defense attorneys representing Halstenberg questioned the investigation’s thoroughness, highlighting Cal Fire’s failure to consider other potential causes.
One of the attorneys, Luke Byward, claims investigators violated Halstenberg’s right to an attorney, citing transcripts from interrogation recordings that show Halstenberg requested a lawyer several times.
Investigators argue that Halstenberg’s request was unclear, but they stopped questioning when they realized he was asking for legal counsel.
The Line Fire has burned close to 44,000 acres in the San Bernardino National Forest, destroying four structures, including the Keller Peak fire lookout. Cal Fire officials report that efforts to combat the Line Fire have cost $82 million so far. An East Valley Water District pipe near Plunge Creek Trail was significantly damaged, with repair costs estimated at $140,000.
Evacuation orders remain in place for the mountain communities of Angelus Oaks and Seven Oaks, with areas near Big Bear under evacuation warning. Firefighters are facing difficult conditions due to dry vegetation and unexpected fire movement.
Halstenberg is due back in court next Friday.
