"The blaze, which erupted on January 7, killed 12 people and destroyed more than 6,000 homes and buildings in the Pacific Palisades, a wealthy coastal neighbourhood of LA. The fire ripped through hillside neighbourhoods, destroying mansions with spectacular views of the ocean and downtown Los Angeles. Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, is posed after his arrest on charges that he intentionally ignited the Pacific Palisades Fire in Los Angeles, before his first court appearance in Orlando, Florida, US, October 8, 2025 [Department of Justice/Handout via Reuters]"
"Investigators determined the fire was intentionally lit, likely by a lighter taken to vegetation or paper, according to a criminal complaint. Authorities first interviewed Rinderknecht on January 24, according to the criminal complaint. He told them he had been in the area on January 1 and did not see anyone else there at that time. He was arrested Tuesday in Florida and was due to appear in court Wednesday."
Federal law enforcement charged 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht with starting a January 1 fire that was initially extinguished but smoldered underground and reignited during high winds on January 7. The resulting blaze killed 12 people and destroyed more than 6,000 homes and buildings in the Pacific Palisades, ripping through hillside neighbourhoods and consuming ocean-view mansions. Investigators concluded the fire was intentionally lit, likely using a lighter with vegetation or paper. Rinderknecht fled the original scene, returned to watch the fire, provided false location information to investigators, was arrested in Florida, and faced federal charges with a scheduled court appearance.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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