PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. — Federal agents arrested Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, in West Melbourne, Florida on three felony arson counts.
Investigators concluded the Palisades fire was a holdover of the Lachman fire he allegedly set just after midnight on January 1, 2025 — a fire that smoldered underground in root structures for six days before winds drove it to the surface on January 7.
Who’s involved
- U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Where to get help
Legal aid partners hold free clinics at the Hub for survivors weighing their options. See upcoming clinics.