An Arrest Has Just Been Made In One Of Two Huge, Deadly January L.A. Wildfires

Jonathan Rindernecht, 29, was arrested in Florida
Tuesday, charged with setting the Palisades Fire
in California.. That was one of two deadly and 
extremely destructive wildfires in
Los Angeles County back in January. 

A Florida man was arrested Wednesday for starting the Palisades Fire, one of two horrific wildfires that tore through Los Angeles County, California in January. 

Beginning on January 7, the two fires combined killed more than 30 people and caused massive destruction in southern California. 

One of the two fires, the Palisades Fire, killed 12 people and damaged or destroyed 8,000 structures in and around Pacific Palisades, California. That's the one Jonathan Rindernecht, 29 of Florida is accused of sparking. 

Prosecutors said Rinderknecht actually allegedly started the fire in the hours before dawn on January 1, after spending New Year's Eve as an Uber driver in the area. 

We learned in mid-January that the fire initially started on January 1. It erupted on Temescal Ridge in the Santa Monica Mountains and firefighters rushed to the scene, called it the Lachman Fire, and managed to contain the fire to eight acres.

They thought it was out, but smoldering embers that were probably semi-buried re-activated on January 7 when Santa Ana winds gusting as high as 100 mph began blasting over the region. 

ABC7 in Los Angeles picks up the story for us:

"(Acting U.S. Attorney) Bill Essayli said two of his passengers told law enforcement that he appeared agitated and angry that night. After he dropped off a passenger in the Pacific Palisades, Essayli said Rindernecht parked his car and tried but failed to contact a former friend. 

Then, Rinderknecht exited his car, walked up a trail, took iPhone videos from a nearby hilltop and listen to a rap song, whose music video included objects being lit on fire.'"

Prosecutors go on:

"After the Lachman Fire ignited, Rindernecht called 911 to report the blaze, fled the scene in his car but turned around when he saw fire engines approach, Essayli said.

'While the Lachman fire burned, the defendant walked up the same trail as earlier that night to watch the fire and firefighters,' Essayli said, adding that Rinderknecht recorded video of the scene using his iPhone."

ABC 7 describes the investigation:

"During an interview Jan. 2, Rinderknecht told investigators where the fire began, information not yet public and that he would not have now if he hadn't witnessed it, the complaint said. He lied about his location, claiming he was near the bottom of the hiking trail." 

According to prosecutors, it looks like the suspect used a lighter to set paper or vegetation ablaze. Prosecutors said Rinderknecht's ChatGPT log shows he created an image depicting a burning forest and crowds fleeing it. 

Rinderknecht is originally from Pacific Palisades but was arrest near his home in Florida Tuesday. He was charged with destruction of property by means of fire. 

Reading between the lines, it looks like Rindernecht didn't intend to cause the death and destruction from the fire. After all, he was not charged with arson. However, prosecutors won't rule out more charges against him. If convicted, he could spend up to 20 years in prison. 

Frustratingly, but not surprisingly at this stage of the proceedings, we don't have a motive for the crime yet. 

The other big fire that day, the Eaton Fire, raced mostly through Alameda, California, killing at least 19 people and destroying at minimum 9,000 structures.  

The origin of the Eaton fire isn't clear, but might have started from arcing electrical lines. 

Climate change is widely believed to have made both January fires worse than they otherwise would have been. Dry conditions had continued well into what is normally the wet season, making the fires possible.