Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, is accused of "maliciously" igniting a fire on Jan. 1 in the Pacific Palisades that ultimately erupted into the Palisades Fire, the Department of Justice said.
The New Year's Day brush fire was suppressed by fire crews but continued to smolder underground before high winds caused it to surface and spread nearly a week later, "causing what became known as the Palisades Fire, one of the most destructive wildfires in Los Angeles City history," acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said during a press conference on Wednesday.
