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Man Arrested, Charged With Starting New Year’s Blaze That Became L.A.’s Palisades Fire

He faces a potential five to twenty year sentence with an initial court appearance in Orlando.

Images: Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli on X / Court documents
Image
FILE - An aerial view shows the devastation left by the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades section of Los Angeles, Jan. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, file)
Firefighters watch the flames from the Palisades Fire burning a home on January 8, in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.

Overview

  • Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, was arrested in Florida and charged in a federal complaint with destruction of property by means of fire, a felony carrying a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 20 years if convicted.
  • Prosecutors allege he intentionally set a small fire near the Temescal Ridge/Skull Rock trailhead just after midnight on Jan. 1, which smoldered as a holdover and then reignited on Jan. 7 during strong winds to become the Palisades Fire.
  • Investigators cite digital forensics linking him to the ignition, including cellphone GPS and 911 geolocation data, iPhone videos, Uber-provided location records, witness statements, and AI-generated images found on his ChatGPT account.
  • Authorities say he lied about his whereabouts in a Jan. 24 interview; geolocation placed him about 30 feet above the initial blaze, and he was set for a first federal court appearance in Orlando on Wednesday.
  • The Palisades Fire killed 12 people, burned more than 23,000 acres, and destroyed over 6,800 structures; the multi-agency probe involving ATF, LAFD, and LAPD continues with possible additional charges and no disclosed motive.