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The background: Federal prosecutors allege that Jonathan Rinderknecht, who had been driving for a ride-sharing app, started the Lachman Fire in the early hours of New Year’s Day. The charging document said that “unbeknownst to anyone, the fire continued to smolder and burn underground, within the root structure of dense vegetation.” When hot, dry winds began to blow about a week later, the fire was reawakened.

The context: The L.A. Times reported earlier this week that text messages show firefighters on the Lachman Fire could still see material smoldering when they were told by a superior on Jan. 2 to wrap things up.

The case: Rinderknecht pleaded not guilty earlier this month to federal charges of one count of destruction of property by means of fire, one count of a

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