Florida Man Arrested for Allegedly Starting Deadly Palisades Fire That Killed 12 in California

Federal authorities announced Wednesday that a Florida man has been arrested in connection with the devastating Palisades Fire that killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes in the Los Angeles area.

The suspect, 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht, also known as Jonathan Rinder, was taken into custody at his home in Melbourne, Florida, on Tuesday, officials said at a press conference. He made his first court appearance in Orlando on Wednesday.

According to a criminal complaint obtained by Fox News, Rinderknecht is accused of starting the Lachman Fire just after midnight on New Year’s Day — a blaze that later reignited underground and became the deadly Palisades Fire.

The complaint alleges he “maliciously damaged and destroyed, by means of fire, specifically, the fire known as the Lachman Fire and Palisades Fire.”

Authorities said the initial fire was quickly contained but continued burning beneath the surface until strong winds sparked the massive wildfire that tore through Pacific Palisades and parts of Malibu.

Investigators said Rinderknecht, who worked as an Uber driver, appeared “agitated and angry” on the night of the fire, according to two passengers he had just dropped off. Officials said he allegedly used an “open flame” to ignite the blaze near his own neighborhood.

An Uber spokesperson told Fox News Digital the company “partnered closely with the ATF to determine the driver’s whereabouts on and around Jan. 1,” confirming that “GPS data placed him near the location of the start of the Lachman fire on Jan. 1.”

Uber said Rinderknecht’s access to the platform was immediately revoked once his suspected involvement became known. The company emphasized that all drivers “must pass a state-mandated background check in order to drive with Uber and are rescreened annually.”