Justin Wayne Halstenberg, 35, from Norco, has been sentenced to 16 years to life in prison for starting the destructive Line Fire and the smaller Bacon Fire in the San Bernardino Mountains. The Line Fire, which began in September 2024, consumed nearly 44,000 acres, damaged multiple structures, and forced thousands of residents to evacuate, prompting the deployment of the National Guard.
Halstenberg was arrested just four days after the Line Fire started on September 5, 2024. Investigators used license plate readers, surveillance footage, and other evidence to place him near the fire’s origin in Highland. Incendiary devices, described as legal paper wrapped around coins, were found near Base Line Road and Alpin Street, and DNA analysis on the coins matched Halstenberg’s profile.
According to KTLA, Halstenberg faced 14 felony charges, including aggravated arson of forest land and possession of flammable materials. He pleaded not guilty during initial court appearances in September 2024. The Line Fire burned for weeks, with firefighting costs reaching $82 million just 18 days into the blaze. The smaller Bacon Fire was quickly extinguished by a Good Samaritan.
District Attorney Jason Anderson stated that the sentence reflects the “sheer destruction and devastation” caused by Halstenberg’s actions, adding that the verdict should reassure residents that “a serial arsonist will no longer torment our County.” Halstenberg was found guilty on May 22, 2025, of seven counts related to the Line Fire and two counts tied to the Bacon Fire.
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