Crews making progress on Southern California’s 44,000-acre Line Fire
Marc Sternfield
Crews gained additional containment on Tuesday on the 44,000-acre Line Fire, which flared up over the weekend and forced a fresh round of evacuations in Southern California’s San Bernardino Mountains.
Cal Fire incident commanders said the fire was 80% contained as of Tuesday afternoon.
The communities of Angelus Oaks and Seven Oaks remained under evacuation orders, and several areas of Big Bear were under evacuation warnings.
More than 1,000 firefighters battled the blaze on the ground, with aerial support from helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.
Hotshot firefighters walk toward the fireline as the Line Fire burns near Big Bear Lake in San Bernardino County, California, September 30, 2024. The Line Fire has burned over 43,000 acres and is 80% contained, according to the San Bernardino National Forest Service. (Photo by David SWANSON / AFP) (Photo by DAVID SWANSON/AFP via Getty Images)
TOPSHOT – A crew member (R) walks near a tree as it ignites as the Line Fire burns near Big Bear Lake in San Bernardino County, California, September 30, 2024. The Line Fire has burned over 43,000 acres and is 80% contained, according to the San Bernardino National Forest Service. (Photo by David SWANSON / AFP) (Photo by DAVID SWANSON/AFP via Getty Images)
Hotshot firefighters walk toward the fireline as the Line Fire burns near Big Bear Lake in San Bernardino County, California, September 30, 2024. The Line Fire has burned over 43,000 acres and is 80% contained, according to the San Bernardino National Forest Service. (Photo by David SWANSON / AFP) (Photo by DAVID SWANSON/AFP via Getty Images)
Water is dropped from a helicopter as the Line Fire burns over 43,000 acres near Big Bear Lake in San Bernardino County, California, September 30, 2024. (Photo by David SWANSON / AFP) (Photo by DAVID SWANSON/AFP via Getty Images)
A crew member carries a hose as the the Line Fire burns near Big Bear Lake in San Bernardino County, California, September 30, 2024. The Line Fire has burned over 43,000 acres and is 80% contained, according to the San Bernardino National Forest Service. (Photo by David SWANSON / AFP) (Photo by DAVID SWANSON/AFP via Getty Images)
Monica Aguilar, the owner of Angelus Oaks Restaurant, has opted to stay behind to serve first responders.
“We stay for them. They’re doing all this for us. It’s the least we can do,” Aguilar told KTLA’s Lauren Lyster. “I know the fire is very close, so we’re worried … If we see it right here, we’re going.”
The fire initially erupted on Sept. 5 in Highland, and authorities said it was an act of arson. Justin Wayne Halstenberg, 34, of Norco, has been charged with multiple felony counts. He has pleaded not guilty.
Cal Fire said that at least one structure had been destroyed, and four others had been damaged.
