A Florida man has been arrested for allegedly starting the Palisades Fire, one of California’s deadliest and most destructive wildfires. The blaze, which began in January 2025, killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles.
According to the U.S. Justice Department, 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht is accused of intentionally setting the fire near a hiking trail shortly after midnight on January 1. Investigators said he had just finished a shift as an Uber driver before igniting the blaze with a lighter. The small fire, initially known as the Lachman Fire, was believed to have been put out but later reignited underground on January 7, spreading rapidly and becoming the Palisades Fire.
Federal investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), along with Los Angeles fire and police departments, confirmed that the Palisades Fire scorched over 23,000 acres and destroyed about 6,000 buildings. Damages were estimated at nearly $150 billion, making it one of the costliest fires in Los Angeles history.
The criminal complaint revealed that Rinderknecht called 911 multiple times before reporting the blaze. During one call, he reportedly asked ChatGPT whether someone could be at fault if a fire started because of cigarettes. His phone also contained videos of firefighters battling the flames. Cellphone records placed him at the ignition site, and no other individuals were detected nearby at the time.
Authorities arrested Rinderknecht in Florida, and he will be transferred to California to face a federal arson charge, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Officials said the fire originated on federal land, making it a federal offense.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass welcomed the arrest, saying it brought “a step toward justice” for families who lost their homes. California Governor Gavin Newsom also praised the development, calling it an important move toward closure for victims.
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