A 29-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly sparking one of Los Angeles’ deadliest wildfires.
The blaze killed 12 people and wiped out more than 6,000 homes.
Jonathan Rinderknecht, once an Uber driver in the area, is accused of igniting the Pacific Palisades fire on New Year’s Day.
The smouldering spark flared into a raging inferno days later.
The fire tore through 23,000 acres, leveling neighborhoods in Malibu and Topanga and causing a staggering $150 billion in damage.
Investigators say digital evidence ties him directly to the crime.
Firefighter Faked Alibi with AI
On his phone? Videos of firefighters battling the flames — and even a ChatGPT-generated image of a city burning.
In another chat, he asked the AI, “Are you at fault if a fire is lit because of your cigarettes?”
Prosecutors believe he was trying to stage an innocent alibi.
Authorities tracked his GPS data, phone calls, and online searches — finding a disturbing pattern that painted a picture of anger and obsession.
“The arrest, we hope, will offer a measure of justice to all those impacted,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli.
As LA officials confront failures in their wildfire response, one haunting question remains.
How did one man’s spark become a city’s nightmare?
