LOS ANGELES (AP) — Authorities in California charged a 29-year-old man with starting a fire that days later erupted into the most destructive blaze in Los Angeles history and destroyed much of the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, federal law enforcement officials announced Wednesday.

Authorities accused 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht of lighting a fire on New Year’s Day that was put out initially, but continued to smolder underground before reigniting during high winds, acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said during a news conference.

This undated photo provided by the US Attorney’s Office shows Jonathan Rinderknecht, a suspect in the Palisades Fire. (US Attorney’s Office via AP)

Rinderknecht fled the scene of the original fire, but returned to the same trail where he’d been earlier to

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