Flames in Line fire in San Bernardino Mountains slow to a crawl

An attack by more than 3,000 firefighters and increased humidity due to lower temperatures has put the 37,000-acre Line fire in the San Bernardino Mountains on the brink of surrender.

The flames, Cal Fire said on Friday, Sept. 13, have been reduced to smoldering and creeping.

“Right now, they’re taking advantage of favorable weather conditions,” Fabian Herrera, a spokesman for the incident command, said of firefighters.

Crews are focusing on the Santa Ana Creek area southwest of Big Bear. The steep slope of that canyon could serve as a chimney for flames to climb.

Despite the progress, evacuations and road closures remained in effect Friday.

The acres burned stood at 37,743 and containment was listed at 21%. There is nuance to the containment figure; some steep, rugged areas are difficult to access, making it challenging to create fire breaks there. But with the flames severely diminished and burning in remote lands, the danger to lives and property can be minimal.

“The Line fire was less active overnight due to high moisture levels in the air,” Cal Fire said in its Friday morning statement. “There are occasional runs in slopes and drainages. The weekend will bring continued cooler temperatures, which will help moderate fire activity and bring moisture levels up the vegetation.”

Here is what we know

• Acres burned: 37,743

• Containment: 21%

• Homes evacuated: 65,100 residences

• Cause of fire: Arson suspected

• When it started: Sept. 5 in Highland

Justin Waye Halstenberg, the 34-year-old Norco resident accused of setting the fire, was scheduled to enter pleas in Superior Court in Rancho Cucamonga on Friday to nine felony charges: Three counts each of arson of forest land and possession of material or a device to set a fire and one count each of aggravated arson, arson of an inhabited structure and arson causing great bodily injury.

Halstenberg is being held without the possibility of bail.

The fire has destroyed one structure, damaged three others and injured three firefighters, Cal Fire said.

Some 11,400 residences and businesses are under evacuation orders and some 53,700 are under evacuation warnings. An order requires people to leave; a warning means they should prepare to leave by gathering important property and documents.

A 3D map shows the areas under orders and warnings.

Road closures

• Highway 38 between Bryant Street and Lake Williams.

• Highway 18 from Kuffel Canyon to the Big Bear Dam.

• Highway 330 northbound from Highland Avenue to Highway 18

Evacuation orders

• All undeveloped land east of Hwy 330 to Summertrail Place and north of Highland Avenue

• Communities of Running Springs and Arrowbear Lake

• The community of Forrest Falls• The community of Mountain Home Village• The communities of Angelus Oaks, Seven Oaks and all campgrounds and cabins in the area• Green Valley Lake north from Highway 18 along Green Valley Lake Road• The area of Big Bear from the dam east to Wildrose Lane and the south shoreline south to Bluff Lake Basin• All San Bernardino National Forest lands, trails, and roads within the fire area