A 29-year-old man from Florida has been arrested on federal charges alleging he intentionally ignited what became the Palisades Fire, one of the most destructive wildfires in Los Angeles history. Jonathan Rinderknecht, also known as “Jonathan Rinder” and “Jon Rinder,” was taken into custody on Tuesday in Melbourne, Florida. He faces a charge of destruction of property by means of fire. If convicted, he could face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 20 years in federal prison.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, the complaint alleges that Rinderknecht maliciously started the Lachman Fire on January 1, 2025, just after midnight. The fire began on land owned by the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority, a federal grantee. Although firefighters quickly suppressed the initial blaze, it continued to smolder underground and reignited on January 7, 2025, during heavy winds, leading to the Palisades Fire. This subsequent fire caused widespread damage in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles.
Law enforcement determined Rinderknecht’s involvement through witness statements, video surveillance, cellphone data, and analysis of fire dynamics and patterns at the scene. The investigation revealed that on the evening of December 31, 2024, Rinderknecht, while working as an Uber driver, appeared agitated and angry to passengers during separate trips between 10:15 p.m. and 11:15 p.m. After dropping off a passenger in Pacific Palisades, he drove toward the Skull Rock Trailhead, parked his car, attempted to contact a former friend, and walked up the trail. He then used his iPhone to take videos at a nearby hilltop area and listened to a rap song, whose music video included scenes of things being lit on fire.
At 12:12 a.m. on January 1, environmental sensing platforms indicated the Lachman Fire had begun. Rinderknecht called 911 several times but didn’t get through due to a lack of cellphone service. When he finally connected with 911, he was at the bottom of the hiking trail and reported the fire. By that point, a nearby resident had already reported the fire to authorities. Rinderknecht then fled in his car, passing fire engines driving in the opposite direction. He turned around and followed the fire engines to the scene, driving at a high rate of speed. He walked up the same trail from earlier that night to watch the fire and the firefighters. At approximately 1:02 a.m., he used his iPhone to take more videos of the scene.
During an interview with law enforcement on January 24, 2025, Rinderknecht lied about his location when he first saw the Lachman Fire. He claimed he was near the bottom of a hiking trail when he first saw the fire and called 911. However, geolocation data from his iPhone carrier showed that he was standing in a clearing 30 feet from the fire as it rapidly grew.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) led the investigation, with substantial assistance from the Los Angeles Police Department and the United States Forest Service. Assistant United States Attorneys Mark A. Williams, Matthew W. O’Brien, and Danbee C. Kim of the Environmental Crimes and Consumer Protection Section, and Assistant United States Attorney Laura A. Alexander of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section are prosecuting this case.
Rinderknecht is expected to make his initial appearance today in United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. A complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
