In January 2025, the Palisades Fire tore through Los Angeles County, killing 12 people and destroying nearly 7,000 structures. Now, months later, authorities have arrested 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht, accusing him of deliberately starting the blaze that became one of the most destructive wildfires in Los Angeles history.
The fire began as a small brush fire, known as the Lachman Fire, on New Year’s Day near the Skull Rock Trailhead in the Pacific Palisades. According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Rinderknecht, a former resident of the area and an Uber driver at the time, allegedly ignited the fire using an open flame, possibly a lighter, to burn materials like vegetation or paper. Firefighters initially contained the blaze, but it continued to smolder underground in dense vegetation. A week later, strong Santa Ana winds fueled its rapid spread, turning it into the devastating Palisades Fire.
The DOJ reports that Rinderknecht was in the area after dropping off a passenger. Two passengers from that night described him as “agitated and angry.” After starting the fire, he reportedly tried calling 911 multiple times but struggled with poor cell service. A three-minute screen recording on his phone showed him attempting to contact emergency services while asking ChatGPT, “Are you at fault if a fire is lift [sic] because of your cigarettes?” Investigators believe this was an attempt to create a less incriminating explanation for the fire’s cause.
Digital evidence also raised concerns about Rinderknecht’s mindset. In July 2024, he allegedly used ChatGPT to generate an image of a “dystopian painting” showing a burning forest and people fleeing, with wealthy individuals watching and laughing. A month before the fire, he reportedly told ChatGPT, “I literally burnt the Bible that I had. It felt amazing. I felt so liberated.” These findings suggest a troubling thought process leading up to the incident.
On January 24, 2025, investigators interviewed Rinderknecht, who allegedly lied about his location when he first saw the fire. He claimed to be near the bottom of a hiking trail, but phone data placed him just 30 feet from the fire’s origin. Authorities also found videos on his phone of firefighters battling the blaze, which he filmed after returning to the scene.
Rinderknecht was arrested on October 7, 2025, near his new residence in Florida. He faces charges of destruction of property by fire, which carries a potential 20-year prison sentence. Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli stated that additional charges, possibly including murder, may be filed soon. The investigation involved over 200 leads, hundreds of interviews, and 13,000 pieces of evidence, including fire debris, digital data, and DNA samples.
The Palisades Fire scorched over 23,000 acres, caused $150 billion in damages, and ravaged neighborhoods in Pacific Palisades, Topanga, and Malibu. It destroyed the homes of celebrities like Mel Gibson, Paris Hilton, and Jeff Bridges. The same day, the nearby Eaton Fire killed 19 people and destroyed over 9,400 structures, though its cause remains unclear. An outside review criticized outdated emergency alert policies, which delayed evacuations during the fast-moving fires.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced that a detailed report from the Los Angeles Fire Department will be released soon. For now, Rinderknecht’s arrest offers some hope of justice for the communities devastated by the Palisades Fire.