Florida man arrested in Lachman Fire start linked to Palisades blaze

Federal authorities arrested a 29‑year‑old man in Florida this week and charged him with maliciously igniting a small brush fire on New Year’s Day that prosecutors say smoldered and later rekindled to become the Palisades Fire, the wind‑driven blaze that in January killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of structures in the Pacific Palisades, Malibu and nearby communities. Jonathan Rinderknecht was taken into custody Tuesday at his home in Melbourne, Florida, and is accused in a federal criminal complaint of starting the initial Lachman Fire on land within the Santa Monica Mountains shortly after midnight on Jan. 1.

Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli and investigators said the Lachman Fire was suppressed on Jan. 1 but continued to smolder in underground root systems and then resurged on Jan. 7 under extreme Santa Ana winds, ultimately burning roughly 23,000 acres and destroying about 6,800 structures before containment at the end of January. Rinderknecht has been charged with destruction of property by means of fire, a federal offense that carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 20 years in prison; prosecutors said they may seek additional charges...