Burned cars, downed trees, and power lines are pictured in Pacific Palisades, California, on Jan. 10, 2025, after a deadly fire devastated the tight-knit coastal community.
Los Angeles, California – A California man could spend the rest of his life in prison after being found guilty of starting a massive wildfire that scorched tens of thousands of acres and forced widespread evacuations in Southern California last year.
Justin Halstenberg, a resident of Norco, was convicted on multiple felony counts including aggravated arson of forest land, arson of property, and possession of flammable materials, according to a statement from the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office released Thursday evening.
The Line Fire ignited on September 5, 2024, in San Bernardino County, just east of Los Angeles. With temperatures soaring to 100 degrees Fahrenheit and dry brush acting as tinder, the fire spread rapidly. Fueled by hot weather and dry vegetation—left behind after two unusually wet winters—the blaze ultimately consumed 44,000 acres.
Authorities said Halstenberg attempted to set three fires within the span of one hour. The first was extinguished quickly by emergency crews, while the second was stomped out by a bystander. It was his third attempt that sparked the Line Fire, triggering evacuations and causing an estimated $7 million in property damage. He was arrested five days later on September 10 and charged with 11 counts of arson, including the use of incendiary devices.
Fire season in California has increasingly become a year-round threat, driven by rising global temperatures, prolonged drought conditions, and changing weather patterns. The Line Fire is one of many examples of how these evolving factors are making wildfires burn faster and more intensely.
The damage caused by wildfires extends beyond immediate destruction. Burned terrain becomes more susceptible to mudslides and flooding when heavy rain follows a blaze. Additionally, dry winds—particularly Santa Ana winds common in the fall and winter—can quickly intensify fire behavior.
Earlier this year, these same winds contributed to devastating wildfires in Los Angeles during January, where more than 30 people died and thousands of homes were lost in neighborhoods like the Palisades and Altadena.
The conviction of Halstenberg underscores the severe legal consequences for those responsible for such devastation, particularly in a state where fire risk is now a near-constant reality. His sentencing is expected in the coming weeks and could include life in prison, reflecting the gravity of the damage caused and the growing urgency to deter acts of arson in a fire-prone California.
