Trial Begins for Man Accused of Sparking Palisades Fire
LOS ANGELES — The federal arson trial of Jonathan Rinderknecht, the 29-year-old accused of sparking the devastating Palisades Fire that killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes, began Monday with jury selection at the Mendez United States Courthouse. The case, one of the most consequential arson prosecutions in California history, centers on whether Rinderknecht can be held criminally responsible for a “zombie fire” that rekindled days after firefighters believed they had extinguished it.
According to AP News, Rinderknecht appeared in court wearing a white shirt and blue tie, having pleaded not guilty to three felony counts: destruction of property by means of fire, arson affecting interstate commerce, and timber set afire. If convicted, he faces between five and 45 years in prison.
The Zombie Fire Theory
Prosecutors allege that Rinderknecht started a small blaze — dubbed the Lachman Fire — in the early morning hours of January 1, 2025, near Pacific Palisades. The Los Angeles Fire Department extinguished the visible flames the following day, but the fire continued smoldering undetected in underground root systems. Five days later, on January 7, extreme Santa Ana winds with gusts reaching 80–100 mph fanned the embers back to life, igniting what became the Palisades Fire.
This type of blaze is known as a “holdover” or “zombie” fire — a phenomenon where a fire burns underground and resurfaces under favorable conditions. The trial is expected to hinge on whether the rekindling was foreseeable. Aya Gruber, a criminal law expert at the University of Southern California, told The Guardian that the case turns on this very question: “This isn’t so unusual, it’s not on the outer limits of foreseeable. We have Santa Ana winds every year. You could also argue that this type of zombie fire is very unusual.”
A City Still in Recovery
The Palisades Fire burned for 25 days, consuming 23,448 acres across Pacific Palisades, Topanga, and Malibu. According to Wikipedia, it destroyed 6,837 structures and damaged 1,017 more, causing an estimated $25 billion in damage. It ranks as the third-most destructive wildfire in California history and the most destructive ever to strike Los Angeles. Approximately 105,000 people were evacuated during the blaze.
More than a year later, the city’s recovery remains painfully slow. Of more than 450 construction projects in the burn area, only 17 homes have been certified for occupancy. Residents who spoke with AP News expressed mixed emotions about the trial. “It drums up all of the emotions over this past year and makes me think about all of the suffering and chaos of all of our neighbors and friends’ lives,” said Meghan Wald, whose home was among the few left standing on her block.
The Defense and the LAFD Controversy
Lead defense attorney Steve Haney has argued that Rinderknecht is being made “a scapegoat” for the Los Angeles Fire Department’s failure to fully extinguish the January 1 blaze. The Los Angeles Times previously published investigations suggesting firefighters were ordered to leave the Lachman Fire site while it was still smoldering, and that the department’s after-action report was “watered down” over seven drafts.
However, U.S. District Judge Anne Hwang, who is presiding over the case, has barred the defense from introducing evidence of LAFD negligence, ruling it irrelevant and potentially confusing to the jury. Haney said he plans to argue instead that the government lacks solid evidence or witness testimony linking Rinderknecht to the first fire, and that first responders heard fireworks in the vicinity where the blaze started.
The Prosecution’s Evidence
Prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California have outlined a case built on geolocation data from Rinderknecht’s phone, a Bic barbecue lighter seized from his car, and witness statements from Uber passengers who reported he was agitated and ranting about being “angry at the world.” They also allege Rinderknecht was fixated on Luigi Mangione — the man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December 2024 — and told investigators someone might commit arson in the Palisades “out of resentment of the rich.”
Broader Implications
The trial unfolds against the backdrop of a heated Los Angeles mayoral race, where incumbent Mayor Karen Bass faces criticism over the city’s disaster response. Bass was in Ghana as part of a presidential delegation when the fire ignited. One of her challengers, reality TV personality Spencer Pratt who lost his home in the blaze, has made criticism of the city’s recovery a central campaign message.
Lena Loh, a skin care clinic owner who opened her business in the Palisades three months before the fire, captured the sentiment of many residents: “I don’t necessarily think putting him on trial is gonna fix anything. This is a city issue. The city needed to manage that small speck of fire better.”
What’s Next
The trial is expected to take approximately two weeks. A group of more than 80 potential jurors were sworn in Monday and will return Tuesday for questioning. The outcome could set a significant legal precedent for holding individuals responsible for “zombie fires” that rekindle after initial suppression, while separate civil lawsuits against the city over LAFD’s handling of the Lachman Fire continue to proceed.