29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht has been arrested and charged in connection with the deadly Palisades Fire, one of the most destructive wildfires in Los Angeles history. Authorities allege Rinderknecht “maliciously” set the blaze, which resulted in 12 fatalities and over 23,000 acres of damage, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection report. AccuWeather also reports that the fire resulted in close to $52 billion in damages.
The former Uber driver was arrested on Tuesday near his Florida home on a federal charge of destruction of property by means of fire, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli. Investigators say the Palisades Fire was a “holdover” from the Lachman Fire that Rinderknecht allegedly started on New Year’s Day. Though firefighters initially contained that blaze, it continued to smolder underground until strong winds reignited it days later.
The Pacific Palisades along with other affected areas, in Southern California, are one of the most destructive wildfires in history; Photo Credit: Stephanie Libonati and the LA Times
Court documents reveal that ChatGPT played a key role in the investigation. Federal prosecutors say Rinderknecht used the AI tool to generate disturbing imagery, including a “dystopian painting showing a burning forest and a crowd fleeing from it,” months before the fire. He also conducted searches asking questions like, “Are you at fault if a fire is lit because of your cigarettes?”
Authorities report that Rinderknecht, who once lived in Pacific Palisades, appeared agitated and angry while working as an Uber driver before starting the blaze. After dropping off a passenger, he reportedly hiked up the Skull Rock Trailhead, took photos and videos, and listened to a song depicting fire before the flames erupted around midnight. Officials say he later called 911 to report the fire, then followed emergency vehicles to the scene, filming firefighters as they battled the inferno.
Investigators ruled out other potential causes such as fireworks, lightning, and power lines.
The 25-page after-action report released by the Los Angeles Fire Department cited delays in communication and resource deployment that hampered early firefighting efforts.
“While we cannot undo the damage and destruction that was done, we hope his arrest and the charges against him bring some measure of justice to the victims of this horrific tragedy,” said Essayllu via X on the fire.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom praised the collaboration between federal and local agencies and said a detailed preparedness report will be released the week of October 20th.
If convicted, Rinderknecht faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 20 years in federal prison.
