A Florida man is accused of starting the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles, California, which burned nearly 24,000 acres, killed 12 people, and caused $150 billion in damages. Jonathan Rinderknecht, a 29-year-old Florida resident, is the alleged arsonist. Prosecutors highlighted his social media activity promoting climate alarmism and attacking conservatives. The fire began on January 7, 2025, in the hills above Los Angeles. Rinderknecht later moved back to Florida, where he remains held without bail.
Rinderknecht faces charges after allegedly starting the Palisades Fire, which destroyed over 7,000 homes and businesses. Authorities believe the fire smoldered for days before reigniting on January 7, causing catastrophic damage. On Facebook, Rinderknecht frequently shared content promoting environmental alarmism, veganism, and leftist politics. Among the articles he posted were “Climate Change Will Force a New American Migration” and “Senator Kamala Harris Says Meat is Destroying the Planet.” He often mocked President Donald J. Trump and his supporters, reposting material from Democrats like Joe Biden.
Rinderknecht also shared links to Harris-Biden fundraising pages and uploaded AI-generated images of burning cities, some eerily similar to scenes from the fire he allegedly set. Shortly after the blaze, Rinderknecht left California and returned to Florida, where he is now being held without bail in Orlando.
