Palisades fire in Los Angeles: destruction, arrest, and mysteries
8 october 2025 в 20:13
The fire in Pacific Palisades, which broke out in the Los Angeles County on January 7, 2025, quickly spread to surrounding areas. Firefighters and officials in Southern California fought the fire, which burned thousands of acres of land and homes. Residents of Pacific Palisades, including celebrities, lost their homes and abandoned their cars to escape the dangerous smoke and flames. Now, nine months after the incident, many are wondering how this fire started in the first place.
Learn more about the dangerous fire in Palisades, its destruction, and the arrest in October 2025 below.
Officials indicated that extremely strong winds exacerbated the fire. Wind gusts intensified on the night of January 7, and several sources reported gusts reaching up to 100 miles per hour in certain parts of Los Angeles County.
After the fires were extinguished, officials considered the possibility of arson. However, this has not been proven yet.
In January 2025, there were a total of 14 fires throughout the state of California, mostly in San Diego and Los Angeles counties. The largest fires were in Palisades and Eaton, affecting Pasadena and Altadena.
29-year-old Florida resident Jonathan Rinderknecht was arrested on suspicion of arson in the Palisades fire, suspected of «maliciously» setting it. Acting prosecutor Bill Essely announced in October 2025 that Rinderknecht started the Lahman fire in Pacific Palisades on January 1 — a few days before the massive blaze devastated the region.
«He is charged with arson in the Palisades fire. He started it on January 1», - Essely said, citing CBS.
The Lahman fire initially affected about eight acres and did not destroy buildings, but later investigations showed that strong Santa Ana winds could have reignited embers, leading to the Palisades fire in the same location.
Earlier this year, California Attorney General Rob Bonta told CNN that there are «some indications that arson — is a possibility we must consider»
Learn more about the dangerous fire in Palisades, its destruction, and the arrest in October 2025 below.
Officials indicated that extremely strong winds exacerbated the fire. Wind gusts intensified on the night of January 7, and several sources reported gusts reaching up to 100 miles per hour in certain parts of Los Angeles County.
After the fires were extinguished, officials considered the possibility of arson. However, this has not been proven yet.
In January 2025, there were a total of 14 fires throughout the state of California, mostly in San Diego and Los Angeles counties. The largest fires were in Palisades and Eaton, affecting Pasadena and Altadena.
29-year-old Florida resident Jonathan Rinderknecht was arrested on suspicion of arson in the Palisades fire, suspected of «maliciously» setting it. Acting prosecutor Bill Essely announced in October 2025 that Rinderknecht started the Lahman fire in Pacific Palisades on January 1 — a few days before the massive blaze devastated the region.
«He is charged with arson in the Palisades fire. He started it on January 1», - Essely said, citing CBS.
The Lahman fire initially affected about eight acres and did not destroy buildings, but later investigations showed that strong Santa Ana winds could have reignited embers, leading to the Palisades fire in the same location.
Earlier this year, California Attorney General Rob Bonta told CNN that there are «some indications that arson — is a possibility we must consider»
© Puhova Marina
