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Gov. Gavin Newsom traveled to Southern California on Wednesday, proclaiming a state of emergency in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Orange and Riverside counties in response to the Bridge and Airport fires, his office said in a statement.

The Airport Fire began around 1 p.m. PT on Tuesday, sparked by county public works crews working on a fire prevention project by trying to move boulders to prevent public access -- mostly by motorcyclists -- to an area of the canyon with a lot of dry vegetation that could ignite easily, officials told ABC Los Angeles station KABC.

The Line Fire

Newsom has also declared a state of emergency related to the Line Fire, which authorities alleged was deliberately set on Sept. 5. That wildfire -- east of Los Angeles in San Bernardino County -- was 18% contained on Thursday after burning 37,207 acres, Cal Fire said.

Over 100,000 people have been displaced from the affected area amid evacuation orders and warnings, with 65,600 structures threatened.

\"PHOTO:
Ringo Chiu/Reuters
PHOTO: A Cal Fire firefighter tackles the Bridge Fire threatening mountain communities to the northeast of Los Angeles, in Wrightwood, California, U.S. September 11, 2024.
>

Justin Wayne Halstenberg, 34, was charged on Thursday with allegedly starting the Line Fire, officials said. Halstenberg is expected to be arraigned Friday on nine felony counts, including aggravated arson, arson causing great bodily injury and possession of materials and devices for arson.

San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson said at a news conference Thursday that three incendiary devices were found in the area where the fire ignited.

\"PHOTO:
Satellite image ©2024 Maxar Technologies.
PHOTO: Color infrared overview of Line Fire in Running Springs, California, Sep. 11, 2024.
>

According to officials, the suspect allegedly tried to start the fire multiple times before succeeding.

Officials said they used automated license plate readers to identify a vehicle seen in the area of the Line Fire at the time it ignited and traced the vehicle to Halstenberg.

Newsom visited the Line Fire command post in Highland on Wednesday.

\"California is deploying every available resource to combat these devastating fires, and we'll continue to work in lockstep with federal and local partners in this herculean effort,\" Newsom said.

ABC News' Marilyn Heck contributed to this report.

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