29-year-old man arrested in connection with Palisades Fire that ravaged Los Angeles

Authorities have made an arrest in connection with the deadly, devastating Palisades Fire that ravaged part of Los Angeles earlier this year, now believed to have been caused by arson, officials said on Oct. 8.

The fire, along with the Eaton Fire in another part of Los Angeles County, erupted on Jan. 7 and burned for weeks. The two fires combined claimed at least 31 lives, with researchers putting the toll much higher. Thousands of homes and other structures were destroyed.

Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, is accused of starting a fire in the early hours of Jan. 1, according to authorities. It was initially put out but continued to burn underground and undetected until winds ignited it and turned it into the Palisades Fire, said Kenny Cooper, special agent in charge of the Los Angeles Field Division for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. If convicted, he could face between five and 20 years in federal prison.

“The Palisades Fire reported on Jan. 7 was caused by an intentionally set fire,” Cooper said. “Heavy winds caused this underground fire to surface and spread aboveground, causing what became known as the Palisades Fire, one of the most destructive wildfires in Los Angeles history.”

Essayli: He exited the car and walked up a nearby trail and took iPhone videos at nearby hilltop and listened to a rap song whose music video included objects being lit on fire. The defendant had listened to this song repeatedly in the days leading up to the fire pic.twitter.com/qVEUB51kGx

— Acyn (@Acyn) October 8, 2025

The Palisades Fire burned over 23,000 acres, destroyed nearly 7,000 structures and is attributed to 12 deaths, according to CalFire. Three other civilians and one firefighter were also injured in the fire, the agency said.

Officials said in a news conference that Rinderknecht was working as an Uber driver on New Year’s Eve and had dropped off a passenger in the neighborhood. Two passengers he drove that night told investigators he “appeared agitated and angry,” prosecutors said in a news release.

He then walked up Skull Rock Trailhead onto a hilltop in the Palisades and at about 12:12 a.m. on Jan. 1 ignited what became known as the Lachman Fire, said Acting District Attorney for the Central District of California Bill Essayli. Before lighting the fire, Rinderknecht allegedly listened to a rap song with a music video that depicts setting things on fire.

After setting the fire, he contacted 911 to report it before leaving the scene, but later turned around and went back to the trail, where he took videos and photos of the fire and firefighters battling it, authorities said.

Rinderknecht, also known as “Jonathan Rinder” and “Jon Rinder,” was familiar with the Palisades area and was a resident of Southern California, later moving to Melbourne, Florida, officials said.

The suspect was known to law enforcement and had been questioned by Jan. 24, Essayli said. He allegedly made false statements to investigators. He is now charged with a federal count of destruction of property by means of fire, Cooper said.

It wasn’t immediately clear if Rinderknecht had an attorney who could comment on his behalf. He is expected to make a first appearance in court later on Oct. 8.

A report released in late July said the wildfires are among the costliest in U.S. history, racking up a combined $65 billion in losses. Another report released last month by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors found that outdated policies, gaps in communication and staff shortages all hindered officials’ response and ability to warn residents about the fast-moving blazes.

More charges could be coming in Palisades Fire case

Essayli said the case will go before a grand jury, and additional charges could be added. A determination about more charges will be made in the coming days, he said.

Rinderknecht falsely told authorities that he first spotted the fire after leaving a clearing and walking back down the hill toward his car, the criminal complaint against him said. During an interview on Jan. 24, “investigators noticed that Rinderknecht’s carotid artery would pulsate and become visible whenever they asked Rinderknecht a question about how the fire started or who started it. Based on my training and experience, that indicates that Rinderknecht was extremely anxious as to that issue,” an ATF special agent wrote in the complaint.

Still, authorities will have to prove the allegations against the man in a court of law, unless he pleads guilty to all charges. Authorities said they were confident that they can prove their case against Rinderknecht in court.

“We will prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he intentionally started this fire, and maliciously,” Essayli said.

Palisades suspect called 911, used ChatGPT after setting fire: Prosecutors

Before setting the fire on Jan. 1, Rinderknecht used his iPhone to listen to the song “Un Zder, Un The,” by the French artist Josman, the criminal complaint said. Rinderknecht also told investigators he grew up in France and was fluent in French.

Records also showed Rinderknecht listened to the song nine times in the four days leading up to the fire. The music video, which he watched three times during that period, shows someone lighting things on fire, the complaint said.

Investigators found on one of Rinderknecht’s devices an AI-generated image of a city burning, Essayli said. The image was made using the following prompt in July 2024, according to the complaint:

“A dystopian painting divided into distinct parts that blend together seamlessly. On the far left, there is a burning forest. Next to it, a crowd of people is running away from the fire, leading to the middle. In the middle, hundreds of thousands of people in poverty are trying to get past a gigantic gate with a big dollar sign on it,” the complaint said.

“On the other side of the gate and the entire wall is a conglomerate of the richest people. They are chilling, watching the world burn down, and watching the people struggle. They are laughing, enjoying themselves, and dancing. The scene is detailed and impactful, highlighting the stark contrast and the direct connection between the different parts of the world.”

Rinderknecht made several attempts to call 911 after lighting the fire just after midnight, according to the complaint. Many attempts didn’t go through, but officials said the man may not have had cell signal in the area. He was eventually able to get through, by which time a nearby resident had already reported it to 911.

While on the phone with 911, the suspect also used the ChatGPT AI platform to ask the following question, according to the criminal complaint: “Are you at fault if a fire is lift [sic]because of your cigarettes.”

The search and the calls to 911 were screen recorded using his phone, indicating he “wanted to preserve evidence of himself trying to assist in the suppression of the fire and he wanted to create evidence regarding a more innocent explanation for the cause of the fire,” the complaint said.

Jan. 1 fire turned into the Palisades blaze

The Palisades Fire, which was believed to have started on Jan. 7, is what’s known as a “holdover fire,” authorities said. A holdover fire, also known as a “zombie fire” can continue to burn underground and flare up again later.

Firefighters put out the Jan. 1 Lachman Fire later the same day after it burned 8 to 10 acres, and intentionally left behind fire hoses in case they needed to redeploy to the area, the criminal complaint said. They collected the hoses on Jan. 2.

“It appeared to them that the fire was fully extinguished,” the complaint said.

The Lachman Fire was caused by an open flame, likely a lighter, the complaint said. Other causes ruled out included fireworks, lightning strikes, electric lines, refraction of sunlight through glass and smoking, the complaint said.