LOS ANGELES (PulseWire) — Authorities have charged Jonathan Rinderknecht, a 29-year-old man, with starting a wildfire that destroyed much of the Pacific Palisades in Los Angeles, as announced by federal law enforcement officials.
Rinderknecht allegedly ignited the fire on New Year’s Day, which was initially extinguished but later reignited due to dry conditions and high winds. Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli stated that Rinderknecht fled the scene but returned to observe the fire burning along the hiking trail.
Upon questioning by investigators, he misrepresented his whereabouts, claiming to be near the bottom of the trail. He was apprehended on Tuesday in Florida, and additional details regarding his method of igniting the fire have not been disclosed.
The wildfire, which broke out on January 7, claimed the lives of 12 people and led to the destruction of more than 6,000 homes and businesses in the upscale coastal community. The roaring flames consumed numerous mansions that overlooked scenic views of the ocean and downtown Los Angeles.
Investigators have determined that the fire was intentionally lit possibly with a lighter applied to dry vegetation or paper. Rinderknecht had initially denied seeing anyone else in the area when questioned by authorities.
The Pacific Palisades fire was one of two major fires ignited on January 1; the other, the Eaton Fire, resulted in 18 fatalities as well. Both fires ravaged entire neighborhoods, leaving behind extensive damage.
An external review pointed out inadequacies in emergency response measures that contributed to the scale of devastation, noting outdated policies and a lack of resources for timely evacuation alerts.
Rinderknecht's legal proceedings are ongoing, as he faces serious charges related to this catastrophic incident.
