The mother of the man accused of starting the Line fire in southern California has come forward to defend her son, claiming he did not start the blaze. Justin Wayne Halstenberg, 34, is facing arson-related charges for allegedly starting the fire in San Bernardino county on September 5th. Prosecutors allege that Halstenberg attempted to start fires in two other locations before successfully igniting the Line fire.
Halstenberg’s mother, Connie Halstenberg, told the Los Angeles Times that while she may not approve of everything her son does, he is not an arsonist. Prosecutors have indicated that additional charges may be filed as the fire continues to burn through dense vegetation in the area.
Thousands of firefighters have been working to contain the Line fire, which has scorched over 38,000 acres and destroyed one home. The fire is 25% contained as of Saturday, and cool weather conditions are expected to help with containment efforts.
In addition to the Line fire, firefighters have been battling two other wildfires in southern California, with the largest blaze, the Bridge fire, burning 81 square miles, destroying multiple homes, and forcing thousands of evacuations. Firefighters have made progress against all three blazes, and officials in northern Nevada are hopeful that almost all evacuees from a wildfire there could soon return home.
Despite the challenges posed by steep terrain and dry conditions, firefighters have been making progress on containing the wildfires. The Southern California blazes have threatened tens of thousands of homes and other structures, with smoke and ash causing air quality advisories in the region. Evacuation orders are gradually being lifted as containment levels improve, with fire officials optimistic about reaching full containment soon.
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Photo credit www.theguardian.com
