By The New York Times (U.S.) | Created at 2024-09-30 16:38:04 | Updated at 2024-10-01 04:10:41
11 hours ago
The Line fire, which has burned since Sept. 5, forced another evacuation order this weekend.
Sept. 30, 2024, 12:28 p.m. ET
A wildfire that has been burning in Southern California for nearly a month flared up again over the weekend, forcing another round of evacuations.
Residents of Seven Oaks, a mountain community about 90 miles east of Los Angeles, were ordered to evacuate on Sunday, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s department announced, and people in two more areas were warned they might need to evacuate, as well.
As of Monday morning, the fire, known as the Line fire, had burned through about 43,000 acres and was 80 percent contained, according to the San Bernardino National Forest division of the Forest Service.
The fire, in San Bernardino County, started Sept. 5 and was fed by daytime temperatures as high as 100 degrees Fahrenheit, with little respite at night. In a phenomenon known as whiplash weather, two years of wet conditions had enabled the growth of grass and shrubs, which then dried out during the hot summer of 2024, providing fuel for the fire.
On Sept. 10, the police arrested Justin Halstenberg, 34, and charged him with 11 counts of arson, including using incendiary devices to set multiple fires, including the Line fire. He has pleaded not guilty.
The population of Inland Empire of California has grown in recent years as residents have been priced out of Los Angeles, to the West.
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The region’s San Bernardino Mountains are also a draw for tourists, skiers and boaters. But the dangers of wildfires have led many insurers to abandon the market, leaving residents to pay high rates or carry all the risk.
The Line fire is currently burning in two areas, the Santa Ana river drainage, where firefighters were trying to direct the fire down to the river, and the Bear and Siberia creek drainages, where the steep terrain has posed challenges for the crews, according to the government.
Up north, the National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for the Bay Area, beginning Monday and lasting through Wednesday night. Forecasts showed temperatures hitting the 90s there on Tuesday.
The Service warned on Monday that conditions “may allow for a rapid spread of fires across a large portion of the Central/Northern Plains today.”
Victor Mather, who has been a reporter and editor at The Times for 25 years, covers sports and breaking news. More about Victor Mather
