A man has been arrested and charged with starting the Pacific Palisades Fire in Los Angeles, which resulted in the deaths of 12 people. Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, was taken into custody in Florida on Tuesday. He is accused of igniting a fire on New Year's Day that devastated much of the Pacific Palisades neighborhood a week later.

Authorities allege that the fire was initially extinguished but later reignited due to underground smoldering, exacerbated by high winds. Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli stated, "The complaint alleges that 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. 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."

Investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) have gathered evidence against Rinderknecht. This includes witness statements, video surveillance, mobile phone data, and analysis of fire dynamics at the scene. Prosecutors claim Rinderknecht fled the initial fire but later returned to observe it and take photographs. They also allege he misled investigators about his whereabouts on the night of the fire.

The Pacific Palisades Fire destroyed over 6,000 homes and buildings in the affluent coastal area. Firefighters worked for 24 days to fully extinguish the blaze, which caused an estimated $150 billion in damages.

The determination that the fire was intentionally set could lead to severe legal consequences for Rinderknecht. Federal arson charges carry mandatory minimum sentences ranging from five to 20 years. If the fire resulted in injury or death, the government could seek life imprisonment or even the death penalty.

In addition to the Pacific Palisades Fire, investigators are still working to determine the causes of the Hurst blaze and the Eaton fire, which also broke out on the same day in Altadena, resulting in 18 fatalities. A review released in September highlighted deficiencies in emergency response, noting that outdated policies and inconsistent practices delayed evacuation warnings during the fires. The report, commissioned by Los Angeles County supervisors, pointed out vulnerabilities in communication that hampered the county's response efforts.