"LOS ANGELES (AP) - A 29-year-old man has been charged with sparking California's deadly Palisades Fire, one of the most destructive wildfires in its history, authorities said Wednesday. Federal officials said Jonathan Rinderknecht, who lived in the area, started a small fire on New Year's Day that smoldered underground before reigniting nearly a week later and roaring through Pacific Palisades, home to many of Los Angeles' rich and famous."
"Rinderknecht was arrested Tuesday in Florida and made his first court appearance Wednesday in Orlando on charges including malicious destruction by means of a fire, which carries a minimum sentence of five years in prison. Wearing shorts and a T-shirt while shackled at the ankles, he told a federal magistrate in a soft-spoken voice that he was not under the influence and did not have mental issues. The judge set a hearing for Oct. 17 to consider bond and extradition proceedings."
"Los Angeles Fire Department Interim Fire Chief Ronnie Villanueva said the arrest was an important first step toward justice. The department released a report Wednesday that found firefighters lacked enough resources and struggled to communicate clearly in the first 36 hours of the blaze, and that those challenges hampered their response during a critical time. The report said the department did not pre-deploy enough resources despite warnings of severe winds."
Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, was charged with igniting a small New Year's Day fire that smoldered underground and reignited nearly a week later, producing the Palisades Fire. The blaze spread through Pacific Palisades and Malibu, killing 12 in hillside neighborhoods and contributing to more than 30 deaths across two Jan. 7 blazes, while destroying over 17,000 homes and buildings and burning for days in Los Angeles County. Rinderknecht was arrested in Florida and faced federal charges including malicious destruction by means of a fire. A Los Angeles Fire Department report found insufficient pre-deployment, resource shortages, and communication failures hampered the initial response.
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