A 29-year-old man has been accused of igniting the most devastating fire in Los Angeles history by using a lighter to start a fire on New Year’s Day. The fire smoldered underground and reignited almost a week later, resulting in the deaths of 12 people in an affluent hillside neighborhood, according to authorities who spoke on Wednesday.
Federal law enforcement officials have charged Jonathan Rinderknecht with starting the fire on January 1, which was initially put out by firefighters but flared up again due to high winds. Acting U.S. attorney Bill Essayli announced the charges during a news conference.
Rinderknecht was apprehended in Florida on Tuesday and was scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday. He is facing various charges, including malicious destruction by fire, which carries a minimum prison sentence of five years. Aisha Nash, the federal public defender representing Rinderknecht, has not provided any comments to The Associated Press.
The Palisades Fire, one of two fires that erupted on January 7, resulting in the deaths of over 30 people and causing extensive damage to properties while burning for several days in Los Angeles County, ravaged hillside neighborhoods in Pacific Palisades and Malibu, destroying luxurious homes with stunning views of the ocean and downtown Los Angeles.
The fire consumed more than 9,308 hectares of land, destroying around 6,000 structures in Los Angeles and causing an estimated $150 billion in damages.
Investigators disclosed that Rinderknecht, who was working as an Uber driver, dropped off a passenger in Pacific Palisades, then parked and walked up a trail. He used his iPhone to record videos at a nearby hilltop area and watched a rap music video featuring objects being set on fire. He then left the scene after starting the fire but returned to observe the burning, as stated by Essayli.
Police say Jonathan Rinderknecht, a 29-year-old man, has been arrested on charges that he intentionally lit the Pacific Palisades Fire that killed 12 people. The fire destroyed some 6,000 structures around Los Angeles and caused about $150 billion US in damages.
Rinderknecht reportedly made multiple 911 calls to report the fire, according to a criminal complaint. During an interview on January 24, he disclosed the fire’s origin, information not yet public, and misled investigators about his location, alleging he was near the base of the hiking trail, Essayli added.
The complaint revealed that Rinderknecht appeared visibly anxious during the interview. His actions of calling 911 and questioning ChatGPT about a cigarette igniting a fire suggested he aimed to retain evidence of his attempts to assist in fire suppression and create a more innocent explanation for the fire’s cause.
Investigators concluded that the fire on January 1 was deliberately set, likely by using a lighter on vegetation or paper, excluding other potential causes such as fireworks, lightning, or power lines. They also explored the possibility of a cigarette causing the fire but ruled it out as the source.
