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A 29-year-old former Uber driver was arrested and charged in connection with the Palisades Fire in January, one of the most destructive wildfires in Los Angeles history, authorities said at a news conference Wednesday.
Authorities allege that Jonathan Rinderknecht “maliciously” set the fire that killed a dozen people. It was fully contained on Jan. 31.
Rinderknecht was arrested Tuesday near his home in Florida on a charge of destruction of property by means of fire, Bill Essayli, acting U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, said in a post on X.
Authorities said the Palisades Fire was a “holdover” fire or a continuation of the Lachman Fire that Rinderknecht allegedly started on New Year’s Day.
Rinderknecht, who lived in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, had just finished working as an Uber driver when he started the blaze, the Department of Justice said in a news release.
After dropping off a passenger in Pacific Palisades, Rinderknecht allegedly drove toward Skull Rock Trailhead, attempted to contact a former friend and then walked up the trail.
Authorities said he took photos on his cellphone and listened to a rap song “whose music video included things being lit on fire,” the release states.
Environmental sensing platforms indicated that the fire was started at 12:12 a.m. on Jan. 1. Authorities said Rinderknecht attempted to call 911 several times but could not get through because his cellphone was out of range, the news release states. He was eventually able to reach a 911 operator and report the fire. A nearby resident had also reported the fire.
Authorities said Rinderknecht fled in his car but turned around and followed fire trucks responding to the blaze. Just after 1 a.m., he allegedly took videos of the scene as firefighters tried to put out the fire, according to the news release.
“A single person’s recklessness caused one of the worst fires Los Angeles has ever seen, resulting in death and widespread destruction in Pacific Palisades,” Essayli said in a statement. “While we cannot bring back what victims lost, we hope this criminal case brings some measure of justice to those affected by this horrific tragedy.”
Andrew Blankstein is an investigative reporter for NBC News. He covers the Western U.S., specializing in crime, courts and homeland security.
Eric Leonard is an investigative reporter and joins NBC4 with more than 20 years of experience in the news business.
Minyvonne Burke is a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News.
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