New evacuation order issued Sunday as Line fire flares up

Officials ordered a new evacuation for the Line fire Sunday, Sept. 29, nearly a month after the fire in the San Bernardino Mountains was first reported.

Residents were ordered to evacuate from Seven Oaks, a mountain community south of Big Bear Lake and north of Highway 38, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office said Sunday afternoon . Emergency personnel were actively working in the area and firefighting aircraft were on order.

An evacuation warning was also issued for Angelus Oaks, southwest of Seven Oaks .

As the fire flared up in this area, one of the agencies fighting the fire, the San Bernardino County Fire Department, said on social media: "Structure Defense assets (are) staged in the area with additional assets en route."

California Highway Patrol logs showed a stretch of upbound Highway 38 was closed in the Angelus Oaks area because of the fire Sunday afternoon.

More than a week ago, several evacuation warnings surrounding the Line fire had been lifted as crews gained ground against the fire, including one for the Seven Oaks community .

The order comes as fire burning in the Santa Ana River drainage is causing smokier air in the area Sunday, according to the San Bernardino National Forest . Burning material has been rolling down into the drainage area and then traveling upslope.

"We are *expecting* this fire activity," the forest said on social media.

Forest officials encouraged residents to take additional precautions with the smoky air.

There was also active fire burning in the Bear and Siberia creek drainages, forest officials said.

It has been difficult for crews to fight the fire because of steep terrain. A spot for helicopters was being built to allow firefighters to be inserted and access the fire when possible, the forest said in a Sunday morning update.

Highway 330 remained closed in both directions from Highland Avenue in Highland to Live Oak Drive near Running Springs.

As of Sunday, the Line fire, which was first reported Sept. 5, was 83% contained and measured at 40,219 acres.

Justin Wayne Halstenberg, 34, of Norco was arrested and accused of setting the fire in Highland. Officials believed he had set other fires, but didn't release a motive.