A 29-year-old man accused of starting a New Year's Day brush fire on the Los Angeles County coast that eventually became the deadly Palisades Fire a few days later has been arrested in Florida, authorities announced Wednesday.

The suspect was identified as Jonathan Rinderknecht, who is charged by federal prosecutors with destruction of property by means of fire. Rinderknecht ignited a New Year's Day fire that smoldered for days in the root structure in the LA County coastal community before it was re-ignited and fanned by powerful winds on the morning of Jan. 7 to become one of the deadliest and most destructive wildfires in county history, authorities said at a Wednesday news conference .

Rinderknecht was arrested Tuesday at his Florida residence. His initial court appearance was se

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