A 29-year old suspect has been arrested in Florida for “maliciously starting” a fire that burned huge swaths of the Pacific Palisades earlier this year. Twelve people were killed in the deadly fire that raced across the area destroying everything that came in its path from January 7, 2025 till it was fully contained on January 31, 2025.
Jonathan Rinderknetch has been charged with destruction of property by means of fire. It is a federal charge. He allegedly started a fire on New Year’s Day. He was working as an Uber driver on December 31, 2024 and dropped a passenger in the Pacific Palisades. He then drove towards Skull Rock Trailhead.
Rinderknetch walked along the trial and took videos using his iPhone. He listened to a French rap song whose video showed things being lit by fire. He used his phone to call 911 but was unable to reach the emergency service. When he reached the bottom of the hiking trail he got through to 911. However, the fire had already been reported by then.
The Los Angeles Police Department were able to contain the Lachhman Fire on January 1. However, it “continued to smolder and burn underground” and turned into the horrific Pacific Palisades fire as it flared up again above ground, following a windstorm. It is the third most destructive fire in the history of Southern California and has been anticipated to be the costliest fire in the US.
Authorities said that he left the scene but turned back and followed passing fire engines. He hiked on the same trail and took videos of the fire and the firefighters in action.
On Wednesday in a joint press conference by the US Attorney’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Los Angeles Police Department, officials said that the suspect Rinderknetch had lied to the police when he was interviewed on January 24 but they were unable to provide a motive for his actions.
