California fires have burned 1 million acres so far this year. The heat wave carries more risk

The total acres burned in California this year topped 1 million, as rising temperatures this week added to the challenges facing firefighters battling to contain a stubborn wildfire in the mountains northeast of Los Angeles , which broke out over the weekend.

Evacuation orders were extended again Monday for remote communities northeast of Los Angeles as the nearly month-old Line Fire spread across nearly 68 square miles of the San Bernardino Mountains and containment dropped from 83 percent at 79%.

“Dry vegetation, steep slopes and wind aligned … to create conditions for the fire to spread quickly,” according to a statement late Monday from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire.

The risk of wildfires has increased across California as a fall heat wave scorched much of the state. Some inland areas could see temperatures up to 20 degrees above average for this time of year, according to the National Weather Service.

San Francisco, where residents usually break out their sweaters in October, could reach 90 degrees (32 C), while triple digits (38 C) were predicted for Sacramento. The weather service office in the state capital urged residents to stay indoors during the hot day on Tuesday.

Dry, hot winds across the upstate caused Pacific Gas & Electric to preemptively cut power to small groups of customers in high-risk areas. The utility routinely shuts down power service in counties where weather conditions increase the likelihood of wildfires.

In Southern California, the increase in the occurrence of the Line Fire pushed the total acres burned in the state in 2024 to 1,002,618 as of Tuesday morning, according to Cal Fire. The milestone exceeds the total burned during the same period last year — 293,362 acres — but is about on par with the five-year average for the period, the Los Angeles Times reported.

A 34-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to starting the fire on September 5. Justin Wayne Halstenberg of Norco, Calif., was charged with 11 felonies related to the arson, according to court records.

At its height, the fire threatened more than 65,000 homes in and around the Big Bear Lake area.

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