By DOUGLAS W. MOTLEY
Senior Writer
Line Fire arsonist Justin Wayne Halstenberg, 35, a resident of Norco, was found guilty on Thursday, May 22 of igniting the September 2024 Line Fire, which laid waste to 44,000 acres of tinder-dry brush and timber in the San Bernardino National Forest, northeast of Highland.
The stubborn blaze, which Halstenberg was accused of intentionally igniting near the intersection of Baseline Road and Alpin Street in the city of Highland on Sept. 5, 2024, burned out of control for over three months, injuring six firefighters and damaging or destroying five structures, including one occupied residence in Running Springs.
Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for some 9,200 homes during the three-month-long siege; however, many mountain residents, tired of the constant bombardment of acrid smoke and ashes, chose to leave the area voluntarily.
Halstenberg denied being in the area where the fire originated, until prosecutors confronted him with surveillance photos from an automated license plate reader showing his white, double-cab Chevrolet pickup truck parked on streets near two different fires that had started two hours prior to the start of the Line Fire. At both earlier fires, prosecutors said, coins containing DNA evidence and scraps from a yellow legal pad, similar to the coins and paper that were found in Halstenberg’s truck, were also found at the ignition site of the Line Fire.
The prosecutor accused Halstenberg of starting three fires on Sept. 5, 2024, with the first blaze quickly put out by firefighters and the second stomped out by a nearby homeowner.
District Attorney Jason Anderson told media representatives that investigators found Halstenberg’s DNA on an ignition device that was described as yellow legal paper wrapped around coins. During closing arguments, Deputy District Attorney Justin Crocker noted that the wrapped coins were meant to give the incendiary device sufficient weight to throw at its target, which in this case was dry weeds and brush.
Though Halstenberg pleaded not guilty to 14 felony charges at a Sept. 17, 2024, arraignment hearing – including aggravated arson, arson of an inhabited structure and arson causing great bodily injury – he was found guilty on Thursday, May 22, 2025, of seven felony charges related to the Line Fire and two counts associated with a subsequent blaze that included aggravated arson of forest land and possession of flammable material.
Noting that a sentencing hearing is pending, Jaquelyn Rodriguez, a spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office, said Halstenberg faces a potential sentence of life in prison.
Both Sheriff Shannon Dicus and Supervisor Dawn Rowe issued statements on Halstenberg’s conviction.
“Today’s guilty verdict on seven counts related to the Line Fire case is a powerful affirmation of justice and a testament to the unwavering dedication of the San Bernardino County District Attorney and our public safety agencies,” Supervisor Rowe said.
“The DA’s tireless investigation and ethical prosecution ensured the truth prevailed and the person responsible for devastating our communities is being held accountable. I commend the integrity and diligence of the District Attorney, County Sheriff, County Fire and Cal Fire, who never lost sight of the gravity of the damage caused.
“Today they delivered justice for the victims, our residents and the land we all cherish,” the supervisor said.
“This conviction sends a clear message – those who threaten our communities in San Bernardino County will be held accountable,” said Sheriff Shannon Dicus. “I’m incredibly proud of our Highland Station and Cal Fire investigators for their relentless pursuit of justice. I’m grateful to the District Attorney’s office for standing with our residents and their expert prosecution of this case.
“The Line Fire scorched nearly 44,000 acres, affected more than 100,000 residents and forced evacuation warnings or orders across tens of thousands of homes,” the sheriff added. “Over 150 sheriff’s personnel, supported by our municipal and state law enforcement partners and the National Guard, worked around the clock to safeguard lives and property.
“I’m equally proud of our community’s resilience – for standing strong and supporting us every step of the way. This outcome is a huge victory for the City of Highland, our mountain residents and all the firefighters who fought a massive battle protecting lives, homes and property,” Sheriff Dicus said. “Once again ‘SB County Strong!’”
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