The federal government on Wednesday announced the arrest of a 29-year-old male in connection with the origin of the devastating Palisades Fire in Los Angeles.

Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli announced on X the arrest of Jonathan Rinderknecht "on a criminal complaint charging him with maliciously starting what became the Palisades Fire in January."

'True disaster.'

Essayli said the criminal complaint alleges that Rinderknecht "started a fire in Pacific Palisades on New Year's Day — a blaze that eventually turned into one of the most destructive fires in Los Angeles history, causing death and widespread destruction."

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Jonathan Rinderknecht. Image source: Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli on X

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