Crews defending Angelus Oaks amid ongoing Line Fire in San Bernardino County

Wednesday, October 2, 2024

Crews defending Angelus Oaks amid ongoing Line Fire

As the Line Fire in San Bernardino County continues to burn, crews are working to protect communities that are being threatened as evacuation orders remain in place.

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (KABC) -- As the Line Fire in San Bernardino County continues to burn, crews are working to protect communities that are being threatened as evacuation orders remain in place.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department issued an evacuation order for the small mountain communities of Seven Oaks and Angelus Oaks. Evacuation warnings were issued for the Boulder Bay area of Big Bear, from the dam east to Wildrose Lane, community of Big Bear Lake including Moonridge, Sugarloaf, and south Erwin Lake.

Roads were also closed due to the fire. SR-330 closed both directions from Highland Ave to Live Oak. Highway 38 is closed north of Angelus Oaks at the intersection of the Middle Control Road and 38 on the south end and closed at the north end by the Lake Williams community at Lakewood Drive and 38.

Meanwhile, Highway 18 is open for evacuees out of Big Bear on both sides.

CalFire Battalion Chief Brent Pascua told Eyewitness News he's confident in the progress crews are making in Angelus Oaks.

"Just talking to some of the guys that were out here last night fighting the fire, it did make its run up the canyons, but the town was protected," he said. "Angelus Oaks is looking really good right now, so I think we're in for a really productive day."

Due to the warnings and orders, all Bear Valley Unified School District schools were closed on Tuesday.

The San Bernardino National Forest issued a forest order, creating a forest closure area around the Line Fire. All National Forest lands, trails, and roads within that zone are closed to the public.

"Please know that these orders are reviewed frequently and will grow or shrink as needed based on the size and risks associated with the fire," said CalFire.

The Line Fire flared up again over the weekend due to the high temperatures that threatened the area. The wildfire burned its way into dense brush along steep terrain in the Santa Ana River drainage.

Meanwhile, the man accused of deliberately igniting the fire pleaded not guilty Monday. Justin Wayne Halstenberg, 34, of Norco, was charged with 11 arson-related crimes, according to court records.

As of Tuesday, the Line Fire was spread over 43,800 acres and 76% contained, with 1,176 personnel assigned to fight the blaze, according to the San Bernardino National Forest. At its height, the blaze threatened more than 65,000 homes.