A Florida man has been arrested on suspicion of arson in connection with the destructive Palisades Fire that killed a dozen people in Los Angeles earlier this year, officials said on Wednesday.
The man, identified as 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht, was arrested on suspicion of “maliciously” starting the blaze that later became the Palisades Fire, according to acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli.
Officials claimed during a news conference Wednesday that Rinderknecht started the Lachman Fire in the Pacific Palisades on Jan. 1. The Lachman Fire was initially limited to about eight acres and didn’t destroy any structures, but investigations revealed that catastrophic Santa Ana winds may have rekindled flames that led to the Palisades Fire beginning near the same location.
The Palisades Fire burned more than 23,000 acres of land in the Pacific Palisades, Malibu and the Santa Monica mountains. 12 people were confirmed to be killed, according to Cal Fire, and more than 6,800 structures were destroyed.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
