Los Angeles trial begins for Florida man accused of sparking the deadly Palisades Fire

A federal arson trial began for Jonathan Rinderknecht, a Florida man accused of starting the 2025 Palisades Fire, which killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes. Rinderknecht, who pleaded not guilty, faces charges including malicious destruction by fire. His defense claims he is being scapegoated for the Los Angeles Fire Department’s failure to fully extinguish an earlier blaze.