Suspect Arrested for Starting Deadly Los Angeles Palisades Fire. A suspect, Jonathan Rinderknecht, was arrested in Florida for allegedly igniting the Palisades Fire, which killed 12 people. Rinderknecht started the fire near a hiking trail in Pacific Palisades on January 1, just after finishing his Uber shift. The initial blaze, called the Lachman Fire, was believed to be extinguished but reignited on January 7, becoming the devastating Palisades Fire. Rinderknecht, 29, repeatedly called 911 on January 1, reporting the fire and later filmed videos of firefighters attempting to extinguish it. Federal investigators, including the ATF, concluded that the fire was likely started with a lighter and combustibles like paper or vegetation. The Palisades Fire destroyed over 23,000 acres, damaging approximately 6,000 structures and causing $150 billion in damages. It was one of Los Angeles’ most destructive fires, ravaging Pacific Palisades, Malibu, and Topanga before being contained after 24 days. Rinderknecht made conflicting statements about smoking near the trail and queried ChatGPT about liability in a fire caused by cigarettes. He faces federal arson charges, which could result in up to 20 years in prison, as the fire burned federal land. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom both voiced support for the arrest, citing it as a step toward justice for fire survivors. [Instructions: THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT]