Arrest made in start of deadly California Paliades Fire

Video show lines of houses and businesses along Malibu beach destoryed in the Jan. 2025 Palisades Fire. (Video Credit: Brendan Gutenschwager via Storyful).

LOS ANGELES – Federal and local California officials have announced the arrest of a 29-year-old man associated with the start of the deadly Palisades Fire in January. 

Twelve people died in the fire, which burned 23,448 acres and injured four people, including one firefighter. 

“ This arrest, we hope, will provide a measure of justice to all those who were impacted,” said Acting United States Attorney Bill Essayli. 

The Palisades Fire is one of the most destructive wildfires in Southern California’s history. 

Flames from the Palisades Fire burns a car and homes during a powerful windstorm on January 8, 2025 in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.

(Apu Gomes/Getty Images / Getty Images)

Officials said the fire was started by 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht, who was using an open flame. 

Rinderknecht was a California resident at the time the fire started. He was arrested Tuesday in Florida, where he now lives, Essayli said. 

More than 6,800 buildings were destroyed in the Palisades Fire. 

This is a developing story. Check back often for updates.