LOS ANGELES — Authorities have arrested a 29-year-old man for igniting the January fire that destroyed Los Angeles' Pacific Palisades neighborhood.

Jonathan Rinderknecht was arrested for lighting a fire on New Year’s Day that burned down much of the Pacific Palisades a week later. He was arrested Tuesday in Florida and will appear in court Wednesday in that state.

Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli announced the arrest during a news conference Wednesday morning.

Federal officials and Los Angeles police said earlier Wednesday that they would announce a “significant development” related to the criminal investigation into the fire.

The blaze, which erupted on Jan. 7, killed 12 people and destroyed more than 6,000 homes and buildings in the Pacific Palisades, a wealthy coastal neighborhood

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