WEST MELBOURNE, Fla. — Jonathan Rinderknecht, a 29-year-old man living in West Melbourne, has been charged with starting a devastating fire in Los Angeles-area neighborhoods on New Year, authorities said Wednesday.

Neighbors of Rinderknect were shocked after he was arrested near the home where he was staying.

Jordan Gross says they had never met, and he and his wife were unaware of a connection to the LA fires until they saw a neighborhood social media post about police presence at the home.

“It’s wild. I mean, I remember reading the stories about the fire and everything, but I didn’t realize there was a local connection,” Gross said. “I’m glad they caught the guy, assuming the whole presumption of innocence thing, if he did it, and they convict him, I’m glad they caught him.”

No one

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