Man Charged in Fatal LA Wildfire Sparks Outrage | TNNEWS

A 29-year-old man, Jonathan Rinderknecht, has been charged with igniting a fire that devastated the Pacific Palisades area.

In California, a man faces charges for allegedly starting a fire that later became one of the most destructive in Los Angeles history, severely impacting the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, according to federal officials.

Jonathan Rinderknecht, aged 29, is accused of setting a blaze on New Year’s Day. Although initially extinguished, the fire smoldered underground and reignited due to strong winds, explained acting US Attorney Bill Essayli at a Wednesday press briefing.

Rinderknecht reportedly left the scene but returned to observe the fire, Essayli noted. During questioning, he misled investigators about his whereabouts, claiming he was at the trail’s base.

He was apprehended in Florida on Tuesday and was scheduled for a court appearance on Wednesday. Essayli did not disclose the method used to start the fire on January 1.

The fire, which flared up on January 7, resulted in 12 fatalities and the destruction of over 6,000 homes and structures in the affluent Pacific Palisades area. The flames swept through hillside communities, consuming luxurious homes with ocean and city views.

Investigators concluded the fire was deliberately set, possibly using a lighter on vegetation or paper, as per the criminal complaint.

Rinderknecht was first interviewed on January 24. He admitted to being in the area on January 1 but claimed he saw no one else there.

Authorities ruled out other causes such as fireworks, lightning, and power lines. They also investigated the possibility of a cigarette but determined it was not the cause, according to the complaint.

The cause of another fire, the Eaton Fire, which erupted the same day in Altadena and claimed 18 lives, remains undetermined.

Both fires raged for days, leaving neighborhoods in ruins.

A review released in September highlighted that outdated policies and insufficient resources delayed evacuation alerts, hindering the response.

The report, commissioned by Los Angeles County supervisors, identified several issues, including “outdated policies, inconsistent practices, and communication gaps” that affected the county’s emergency response.