The Line fire, which has been burning in San Bernardino County for almost a month, began spreading faster over the weekend due to abnormally warm temperatures. This weather has led to a loss of moisture in both the vegetation and the air, severely impacting firefighting efforts. Despite the initial expectations of movement, Cal Fire stated that the fire's behavior 'exceeded expectations' as containment slipped from 83% to 78% as of late Monday.
As of Monday, the Line fire has charred a total of 43,459 acres, marking a grim milestone for California as it exceeded 1 million acres burned so far in 2024. This figure significantly surpasses the area burned during the same timeframe last year, which was only 293,362 acres, signaling a troubling trend in wildfire intensity. The ongoing threats are compounded by other fires, including the Bridge and Airport fires.
The Red Cross has opened a new evacuation shelter at the Apple Valley Conference Center to aid those affected by the Line fire, while the Redlands East Valley High School shelter remains operational. In total, the state has reported the destruction of 1,433 structures due to wildfires this season, alongside one fatality. The Line fire alone has damaged or destroyed five structures and resulted in injuries to four firefighters.
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