Authorities have made an arrest in connection with the deadly, devastating Palisades Fire that ravaged part of Los Angeles earlier this year, now believed to have been caused by arson, officials said on Oct. 8.

The fire, along with the Eaton Fire in another part of Los Angeles County, erupted on Jan. 7 and burned for weeks. The two fires combined claimed at least 31 lives, with researchers putting the toll much higher. Thousands of homes and other structures were destroyed.

Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, is accused of starting a fire in the early hours of Jan. 1, according to authorities. It was initially put out but continued to burn underground and undetected until winds ignited it and turned it into the Palisades Fire, said Kenny Cooper, special agent in charge of the Los Angeles Field

See Full Page