Man Charged With Starting Deadly Palisades Fire

29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht has been arrested and charged with malicious destruction by means of a fire

Authorities have arrested a suspect charged with initially igniting the deadly Palisades fire in California.

The fire, which claimed the lives of 12 victims, was one of several blazes that broke out in early January.

The flames combined resulted in the deaths of 30 people total and destroyed over 17,000 homes and buildings. The wildfire outbreak become the most destructive in the state’s history.

29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht started a small fire that smoldered underground before reigniting unattended nearly a week later.

Rinderknecht has been arrested and charged with malicious destruction by means of a fire, which carries a minimum sentence of five years in prison. A hearing has been set for Oct. 17.