A supposed arson accused of launching 34,000 acres of fire – and cops say he may have set others – AOL

The suspected arson accused of placing a wild fire on 34,000 acres east of Los Angeles may have started other fires, authorities say.

Justin Wayne Halstenberg was accused of Tuesday after investigating San Bernardino’s sheriff in the linear fire, which launched an area of ​​about half of Queens, New York as it began last week.

The law enforcement agencies have found evidence, including a “flammable device” at the home and the Halusteberg vehicle, the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Sheriff’s Sheriff said on Wednesday.

“I believe that over time … that we will actually understand that the suspect may be responsible for other fires,” said Sheriff Shannon D. Dikus.

The arrest came after a joint investigation with CAL fire detectives, who used a combination of forensics, automatic readers of witness registration numbers and statements to identify Halustenberg and his vehicle, a white pickup.

“Highland Station detectives, in collaboration with fire investigators, identified Justin Wayne Halustenberg as a suspect who launched a fire in the area of ​​the base road and Alpin Street in Highland, also known as the fire line, on September 5, 2024. “Said the Sheriff’s office.

Halustenberg, a resident of Noro, California, has been a FedEx delivery driver since February 2023, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Previously, he worked as a carrier for letters for the US Post Office and was a meat clerk for Stater Bros. Markets.

The 34-year-old suspect was mildew with arson of a habitable construction, arson of forest land and possession of flammable materials shown in the prison viewed by the publication.

It is held at the Central San Bernardino Retention Center on a bail of $ 80,000.

Police did not reveal how Halstenberg claims to have started Inferno.

He is planned to appear in court at 12:30 pm Thursday.

The linear fire started around 6:33 pm September 5 and destroyed 34 289 acres in the National Forest in San Bernardino. The blaze was only 14 percent contained from Wednesday morning, according to the California Fire website.

Residents along the southern edge of Lake Big Bear was told to leave the area, a popular destination for fishermen, motorcyclists and tourists.

The flame had charred huge areas of grass and brush and covered the area with a thick cloud of dark smoke.

The Acrid Air prompted several areas in the area to close schools by the end of the week because of safety concerns.

Three firefighters have been injured by the explosion message on Thursday, state fire managers said.

Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for areas of the north and east of the fire, including a popular large bear of the ski city.

The evacuation warnings were given to the communities directly south of the National Forest, which included parts of the city of Highland.

Gavard Gavin Newo declared a state of emergency on Saturday and deployed the National Guard to support evacuation.

More than 2,800 employees have been allocated to combat the fire as 65,600 structures have been threatened.

Wild fires erupted through Golden State during a triple heat wave, which finally broke on Wednesday.

Officials hope that the lower temperatures expected for later during the week will moderate the fire.

Just over 30 miles west along the line of San Bernardino-Los Angeles County, the bridge fire began on September 8 and burned 46 727 acres (73 square miles, slightly larger than Brooklyn).

With post wires