LOS ANGELES (AP) — Authorities in California charged a 29-year-old man with starting a fire that days later erupted into the most destructive blaze in Los Angeles history and destroyed much of the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, federal law enforcement officials announced Wednesday.
Authorities accused 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht of lighting a fire on New Year’s Day that was put out initially, but continued to smolder underground before reigniting during high winds, acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said during a news conference.
Rinderknecht fled the scene of the original fire but returned to the same trail where he had been earlier to watch it burn. During an interview with investigators, he lied about his location, claiming he was near the bottom of the hiking trail, Essayli said.
He was arrested Tuesday in Florida and was due to appear in court Wednesday. Investigators believe Rinderknecht may have used a lighter to ignite the vegetation or paper to start the fire.
The blaze, which erupted on Jan. 7, killed 12 people and destroyed more than 6,000 homes and buildings in Pacific Palisades, a wealthy coastal neighborhood of LA. The fire ripped through hillside neighborhoods, destroying mansions with spectacular views of the ocean and downtown Los Angeles.
Investigators determined the fire was intentionally lit, which led to discussions about evacuation protocols and state of emergency resources.
An outside review released in September found that a lack of adequate resources and outdated policies for sending emergency alerts led to delayed evacuation warnings. This incident emphasizes the urgency for improved safety protocols amid increasing environmental hazards.
Authorities accused 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht of lighting a fire on New Year’s Day that was put out initially, but continued to smolder underground before reigniting during high winds, acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said during a news conference.
Rinderknecht fled the scene of the original fire but returned to the same trail where he had been earlier to watch it burn. During an interview with investigators, he lied about his location, claiming he was near the bottom of the hiking trail, Essayli said.
He was arrested Tuesday in Florida and was due to appear in court Wednesday. Investigators believe Rinderknecht may have used a lighter to ignite the vegetation or paper to start the fire.
The blaze, which erupted on Jan. 7, killed 12 people and destroyed more than 6,000 homes and buildings in Pacific Palisades, a wealthy coastal neighborhood of LA. The fire ripped through hillside neighborhoods, destroying mansions with spectacular views of the ocean and downtown Los Angeles.
Investigators determined the fire was intentionally lit, which led to discussions about evacuation protocols and state of emergency resources.
An outside review released in September found that a lack of adequate resources and outdated policies for sending emergency alerts led to delayed evacuation warnings. This incident emphasizes the urgency for improved safety protocols amid increasing environmental hazards.
