A Florida man has been busted for allegedly starting the Palisades Fire — Los Angeles’ deadliest and most destructive blaze ever — which killed 12 people and caused an estimated $150 billion in damage earlier this year.
Authorities say Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, purposely set the fire in Pacific Palisades on New Year’s Day, touching off a hellish inferno that leveled more than 6,000 homes and buildings.
“Today we are announcing the arrest of 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht on a criminal complaint charging him with maliciously starting what became the Palisades Fire in January,” wrote Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli.
“The complaint alleges that Rinderknecht started a fire in Pacific Palisades on New Year’s Day — a blaze that eventually turned into one of the most destructive fires in Los Angeles history, causing death and widespread destruction. Among the evidence that was collected from his digital devices was an image he generated on ChatGPT depicting a burning city.”
The flames consumed over 23,000 acres, and it took fire crews nearly three weeks to fully contain the conflagration.
Today we are announcing the arrest of 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht on a criminal complaint charging him with maliciously starting what became the Palisades Fire in January.
⁰The complaint alleges that Rinderknecht's started a fire in Pacific Palisades on New Year's Day –… pic.twitter.com/UzrFa0Lmrz— Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli (@USAttyEssayli) October 8, 2025
“While we cannot undo the damage and destruction that was done, we hope his arrest and the charges against him bring some measure of justice to the victims of this horrific tragedy,” Essayli finished.
Investigators traced the fire’s origin to a popular hiking trail in the hillside of a state park overlooking the luxury enclave, officials say.
The Palisades Fire erupted around the same time as the Eaton Fire, which claimed 19 lives, though authorities have not declared a cause for that blaze, according to the New York Post.
Both wildfires ravaged communities across Southern California, leaving ash, heartbreak, and urgent questions in their wake.
Rinderknecht was taken into custody in Florida and will be extradited to California to face trial in connection with the deadliest blaze in L.A. history.
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