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Line Fire

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Coordinates: 34°07′16″N 117°09′18″W / 34.121°N 117.155°W / 34.121; -117.155
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Line Fire
The fire on September 7, looking north from the Redlands Municipal Airport staging area
Date(s)
  • September 5, 2024 (2024-09-05) –
  • present
  • (68 days)
Location
Coordinates34°07′16″N 117°09′18″W / 34.121°N 117.155°W / 34.121; -117.155
Statistics
Burned area43,978 acres (17,797 ha; 69 sq mi; 178 km2)
Impacts
Deaths0
Non-fatal injuries6
Structures destroyed
  • 1 destroyed
  • 4 damaged
Ignition
CauseArson
Map
The area burned by the Line Fire as of September 9
The area burned by the Line Fire as of September 9
Refer to caption
Refer to caption
The general location of the fire, in Southern California

The Line Fire is a large active wildfire in San Bernardino County, Southern California. The fire began on September 5, 6:33 PM near the community of Highland and spread into the San Bernardino National Forest. The fire has forced the evacuation of multiple communities. On September 10, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department identified and arrested 34-year-old Justin Wayne Halstenberg, a resident of Norco, on suspicion of starting the fire on September 5.[1][2] As of October 31, 2024, the Line Fire remains at 43,978 acres (17,797 hectares) and is still 98 percent contained.

Background

[edit]

The cause of the fire is believed to be arson.[3] It began during a multiple-day heatwave in Southern California. Downtown Los Angeles reached 112 °F (44 °C), the third time that temperature had been reached since 1877.[4]

Progression

[edit]

The Line Fire ignited on September 5th at around 6:00 p.m. PST along Baseline Road,[5] near its intersection with Alpin Street in East Highlands. The fire was originally named the Baseline Fire. The fire spread from that point into the San Bernardino National Forest.[6]

Progression of the Line Fire as of October 1st, 2024

The CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 3 was activated on September 6th.[7]

On September 7th, the fire began to expand rapidly into the San Bernardino Mountains, prompting evacuation orders for the communities of Running Springs and Arrowbear Lake.[8] Governor Newsom declared a State of Emergency in San Bernardino County, authorizing the use of a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). [9]

Also rain helped the Line Fire on September 7-8, 2024, with combination of rain and smoke.

The California National Guard was deployed, including four UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters, two C-130 aircraft, hand crews, and one military police company to assist with evacuations.[10]

On September 29th, the fire saw a large flare up as it burned through the Bear Creek and Santa Ana River drainages. The increase in fire activity prompted evacuation orders for the communities of Seven Oaks and Angelus Oaks.[11]

As of October 31, 2024, the fire remains at 43,978 acres (17,797 hectares) and is still 98 percent contained.[3]

A large flare up seen from Redlands. On September 29, 2024, twenty-four days after the initial start of the wildfire. San Gorgonio Mountain seen on the right.

Effects

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Evacuations

[edit]
The fire on the morning of September 8, 2024

The Line Fire has led to mandatory evacuation orders for more than 500 homes.[5] Initial evacuation warnings were issued for neighborhoods in East Highland in the early morning of September 6, 2024.[12] By September 7, 2024, evacuation orders would be placed for neighborhoods along the foothills, extending into San Bernardino, and for neighborhoods east of Calle Del Rio.[13]

Over the following days the mountain communities of Green Valley Lake, Cedar Glen, Lake Arrowhead, Crestline, Valley of Enchantment, and Big Bear Valley were placed under evacuation warnings.[14] Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for Running Springs, Arrowbear Lake, Angelus Oaks, Seven Oaks, Forest Falls, and Mountain Home Village.[15]

Landsat 8 satellite image of the smoke plume produced by the fire as it burned in the San Bernardino Mountains on September 9, 2024
[edit]

The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued an advisory on September 6th, warning of health impacts in areas affected by windblown smoke.[5] On September 9th, Rim of the World Unified School District closed campuses to students. Redlands Unified School District and Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District closed all campuses to both students and staff. These closures would be extended through the end of the week on (Friday, September 13th).[16]

San Bernardino Community College District closed both of their campuses September 9th-13th, 2024, and the University of Redlands temporarily transitioned all classes online.[16]

Aviation

[edit]

On September 9th, the Redlands Municipal Airport was closed to non-emergency aircraft. It was later reopened on September 20th. [17] On October 1, the Big Bear City Airport was closed on to non-fire-fighting aircraft due to increased fire activity. It has since reopened.

On September 7th CAL FIRE issued a warning against flying UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) in or around wildfires, reporting that there had been two separate drone incursions into the Line Fire the previous day.[18]

Destruction

[edit]

As of October 24th, there have been 4 confirmed damaged structures, 1 confirmed destroyed structures, and 6 confirmed injuries. [19]

Growth and containment table

[edit]
Fire containment status Gray: contained; Red: active; %: percent contained;
Date Area burned Personnel Containment
Sep 5[20] 172 acres (0.70 km2) -
0%
Sep 6[21] 3,300 acres (13 km2) -
0%
Sep 7[22] 7,122 acres (28.82 km2) 628
0%
Sep 8[23] 17,459 acres (70.65 km2) 1,855
3%
Sep 9[24] 23,714 acres (95.97 km2) 1,890
5%
Sep 10[25] 32,905 acres (133.16 km2) 2,684
14%
Sep 11[26] 36,481 acres (147.63 km2) 3,158
18%
Sep 12[27] 37,589 acres (152.12 km2) 3,398
21%
Sep 13[28] 38,074 acres (154.08 km2) 3,993
25%
Sep 15[29] 38,421 acres (155.48 km2) 4,103
36%
Sep 21[30] 39,232 acres (158.77 km2) 2,956
57%
Sep 29[31] 40,219 acres (162.76 km2) 1,195
83%
Oct 01[32] 43,492 acres (176.01 km2) 1,776
76%
Oct 08[33] 43,978 acres (177.97 km2) 1,651
87%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Brennan, David; Hutchinson, Bill (2024-09-11). "3 massive Los Angeles-area wildfires have scorched more than 100,000 acres in a week". ABC News. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
  2. ^ Ahn, Ashley (2024-09-10). "34-year-old man arrested on suspicion of arson in Line fire in San Bernardino County". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
  3. ^ a b "Line Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  4. ^ "Evacuations ordered as wildfire burns in foothills of national forest east of LA". AP News. September 7, 2024. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c Wenzke, Marissa (September 7, 2024). "Line Fire explodes to more than 7,000 acres, mandatory evacuations in San Bernardino County". CBS News. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  6. ^ Barragan, Sydney (September 7, 2024). "Evacuations ordered in Highland, other areas for Line fire, now at 7,122 acres". The San Bernardino Sun. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  7. ^ x.com. (2024). X (Formerly Twitter). https://x.com/CAL_FIRE/status/1832213288173891718
  8. ^ Zerkel, Eric; Moshtaghian, Artemis (September 7, 2024). "Southern California wildfire burns so intensely that it creates its own weather as it spreads, forcing evacuations". CNN. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  9. ^ "Governor Newsom proclaims state of emergency in San Bernardino County, secures federal assistance to support response to Line Fire". Governor of California. 2024-09-08. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
  10. ^ "California National Guard to support Line Fire response". Governor of California. 2024-09-09. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
  11. ^ "Line Fire flare up prompts new evacuation orders in San Bernardino County". ABC7. September 29, 2024. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  12. ^ "Line Fire: Incident Update on 09/06/2024 at 1:09 AM | CAL FIRE". www.fire.ca.gov. Retrieved 2024-09-08.
  13. ^ "Line Fire: Incident Update on 09/07/2024 at 11:44 PM | CAL FIRE". www.fire.ca.gov. Retrieved 2024-09-08.
  14. ^ Wenzke, Marissa; Salem, Iris; Fioresi, Dean (2024-09-08). "Line Fire in Southern California doubles in size, forcing thousands to evacuate as state of emergency is declared - CBS Los Angeles". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2024-09-08.
  15. ^ "Line Fire: Incident Update on 09/08/2024 at 8:36 PM | CAL FIRE". www.fire.ca.gov. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
  16. ^ a b Press-Enterprise, Staff report | The (2024-09-08). "Line fire causes some school districts to cancel Monday, Sept. 9 classes". Press Enterprise. Retrieved 2024-09-08.
  17. ^ "FAA NOTAM Search". notams.aim.faa.gov. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
  18. ^ x.com. (2024). X (Formerly Twitter). https://x.com/CAL_FIRE/status/1832572523751600364
  19. ^ "Line Fire: Incident Update on 09/20/2024 at 6:51 AM | CAL FIRE". fire.ca.gov. Retrieved 2024-09-20.
  20. ^ "Line Fire: Incident Update on 09/05/2024 at 9:05 PM | CAL FIRE". www.fire.ca.gov. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
  21. ^ "Line Fire: Incident Update on 09/06/2024 at 9:38 PM | CAL FIRE". www.fire.ca.gov. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
  22. ^ "Line Fire: Incident Update on 09/07/2024 at 11:44 PM | CAL FIRE". www.fire.ca.gov. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
  23. ^ "Line Fire: Incident Update on 09/08/2024 at 8:36 PM | CAL FIRE". www.fire.ca.gov. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
  24. ^ "Line Fire: Incident Update on 09/09/2024 at 7:57 PM | CAL FIRE". www.fire.ca.gov. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
  25. ^ "Line Fire: Incident Update on 09/10/2024 at 7:15 PM | CAL FIRE". www.fire.ca.gov. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
  26. ^ "Line Fire: Incident Update on 09/11/2024 at 8:06 PM | CAL FIRE". fire.ca.gov. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
  27. ^ "Line Fire: Incident Update on 09/12/2024 at 7:17 PM | CAL FIRE". www.fire.ca.gov. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
  28. ^ "Line Fire: Incident Update on 09/13/2024 at 6:34 PM | CAL FIRE". www.fire.ca.gov. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  29. ^ "Line Fire: Incident Update on 09/15/2024 at 11:38 AM | CAL FIRE". www.fire.ca.gov. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
  30. ^ "Line Fire: Incident Update on 09/21/2024 at 07:38 AM | CAL FIRE". www.fire.ca.gov. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  31. ^ "Line Fire: Incident Update on 09/29/2024 at 21:14 PM | CAL FIRE". www.fire.ca.gov.
  32. ^ "Line Fire: Incident Update on 10/01/2024 at 12:47 PM | CAL FIRE". www.fire.ca.gov.
  33. ^ "Line Fire: Incident Update on 10/08/2024 at 12:08 PM | CAL FIRE". www.fire.ca.gov.
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