In the first couple weeks of September, an excessive heat wave started up multiple fires around California. One of the closest fires to Yorba Linda High School was the Line Fire in Big Bear, California. This specific fire began on September 5th at 6:33 P.M. and burned away 39,232 acres of land after being active for 17 days. The 2,705 firefighters of San Bernardino County have put up a fight against the fire and dedicated every day to contain the fire up to 60% as of Sunday, September 22nd (The Sacramento Bee).
Although many fires began due to dry conditions that spiked in early September, Justin Wayne Halstenberg is being charged with an arson-related crime. Halstenberg was a delivery driver who was accused of setting the Line Fire in the late afternoon on Thursday, September 5th (Los Angeles Times). Since the beginning of this fire, many students have been affected. Not only the students who are in the danger zones of San Bernardino County and Big Bear but also students here at Yorba Linda High School.
Although students here at YLHS did not have to evacuate, the fire still affected our athletes. Outdoor sports were seen as safety hazards due to the poor air quality. With the fires also came very dry and hot heat, which is something that coaches and other staff members were concerned about. Many games had to be canceled or moved away from a certain area. In YLHS’s case, the football game on September 5th had to be postponed to a later time as conditions were too harsh for football players to commence.
Ava Rodieck (11) shares her experience from Friday, September 6th, the day after the Line Fire began, explaining, “The day after the Line Fire, I went outside to get in my car for school, and I immediately saw the smokey clouds and the strong smell of fire all day long.”
Nonetheless, the fire has affected many people, including students here at YLHS. As for the students in the areas of evacuation, it has affected them increasingly more than it has in Yorba Linda. Schools in the Yucaipa-Calimesa Unified School District closed on Monday, September 9th since it was seen as a safety hazard. Other districts, like Bear Valley Unified School District, continued to hold school on Monday but stated that they would not be participating in outdoor activities (The Sun).
With all that being said, fires in OC and California happen often, but fire departments implement clever tactics that always manage to keep the areas in danger safe and healthy. The police departments also know to keep people accountable for their actions, including Justin Wayne Halstenberg. Other people’s actions can affect the lives of many, whether it is positively or negatively. For this reason, we are thankful for those who ensure protection and safety amongst all.
