Federal authorities have arrested a 29-year-old man accused of igniting the blaze that led to January's devastating Pacific Palisades Fire, one of the deadliest and most destructive wildfires in Los Angeles history, killing 12 people and destroying more than 6,000 homes and buildings.
Jonathan Rinderknecht, a former Uber driver and resident of Pacific Palisades, was detained near his home in Florida on Tuesday and charged with destruction of property by means of fire, Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
Authorities allege Rinderknecht started the initial blaze, known as the Lachman Fire, on New Year's Day, only hours after finishing a shift as an Uber driver. According to the criminal complaint, he had parked near a hiking trail in Pacific Palisades after dropping off passengers, attempted unsuccessfully to reach a friend, and then walked up a nearby hill to record videos of the area.
Investigators say Rinderknecht listened repeatedly to a rap song featuring images of fire in the days before the blaze and filmed himself near the site where it began. "While the Lachman Fire burned, the defendant walked up the same trail from earlier that night to watch the fire and firefighters," Essayli told reporters.
Although firefighters extinguished the smaller blaze, it continued to smolder underground for several days before reigniting on January 7, fueled by strong winds that turned it into the Palisades Fire, which consumed large portions of the affluent coastal neighborhood and parts of central Los Angeles.
Prosecutors said Rinderknecht made multiple 911 calls that night, and later searched ChatGPT to ask whether "a cigarette could light a fire." The criminal complaint stated that those actions appeared to be an effort "to preserve evidence of himself trying to assist in the suppression of the fire and to create evidence regarding a more innocent explanation for the cause."
When questioned by investigators on January 24, Rinderknecht disclosed details about the fire's point of origin that had not been made public, which prosecutors said showed he had firsthand knowledge. Authorities also discovered a "barbecue-style" lighter in his car's glove compartment, identical to one photographed in his apartment on December 31. Investigators ruled out other potential causes, including fireworks, power lines, and lightning.
Essayli said Rinderknecht's behavior reflected both deception and fascination. "He left as soon as he saw the fire trucks were headed to the location. He turned around and went back up there. And he took some video and watched them fight the fire," the prosecutor said.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called the arrest "a step forward toward closure and justice," praising the work of the Department of Justice, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and local fire and police departments for leading the multi-agency investigation. "More than nine months ago, our city faced one of the most devastating periods our region had ever seen," Bass said. "Lives were tragically lost. Thousands of homes were destroyed."
The Los Angeles Fire Department said the arrest represents "a critical step toward ensuring accountability, justice, and healing for our city." "Although the flames have been extinguished," the department said in a statement, "the impact of these fires will linger for years to come."
