In the early hours of 2025, Jonathan Rinderknecht, 30, allegedly started a fire out of distress over a breakup, which later escalated into the catastrophic Palisades Fire. He faces federal charges including arson and could face 45 years in prison if convicted. Prosecutors claim Rinderknecht set the fire near Skull Rock, an emotionally significant location for him, before a small fire, known as the Lachman Fire, broke out shortly after midnight.
This fire, not fully contained due to a lack of monitoring by firefighters, reignited a week later, becoming the deadly Palisades Fire that ravaged over 24,000 acres, killed 12 people, and destroyed approximately 6,800 structures.
Defense attorney Steve Haney argues that Rinderknecht is being unfairly blamed for the firefighters’ failure to manage the initial blaze. Witnesses have described Rinderknecht’s behavior as erratic on New Year’s Eve, but Haney plans to present evidence of his typical behavior, emphasizing that Rinderknecht called 911 multiple times upon discovering the fire.
The Palisades Fire has since influenced local politics, spurring criticism of Mayor Karen Bass during a recent mayoral race.
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