Pacific Palisades

A 29-year-old man accused of setting a fire on New Year's Day that prosecutors say eventually became the deadly Palisades Fire pleaded not guilty Thursday to a trio of federal charges.

A federal grand jury has indicted Jonathan Rinderknecht, who is charged with starting what eventually became the Palisades Fire.

The closure stretched from Pacific Coast Highway to Grand View Drive.

In Pacific Palisades, residents and workers in burn zones are racing to prepare for what could be the strongest October storm in over a decade. Contractors are reinforcing structures to protect against flooding, while residents brace for impact.

An LAFD whistleblower said heat detection technology could have prevented the Palisades Fire.

An Uber passenger is speaking out about his encounter with the driver now accused of sparking the deadly Palisades Fire, describing him as angry and unstable during their New Year’s Eve ride.

The judge cited Rinderknecht's mental health, unsteady income, and stressed relationship with family as reasons to deny bond.

Blake Mallen and his family are still picking up the pieces after losing their home in the destructive Palisades Fire. He said the announcement of an arrest brought back the gut-wrenching memories from January.

Officials said evidence collected from 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht's digital devices showed an image he generated on ChatGPT depicting a burning city and a crowd fleeing from it.

The Los Angeles Fire Department released an after-action report detailing successes and challenges, including inadequate initial resources and firefighter exhaustion.

The suspect, identified as 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht, worked as an Uber driver. During the firestorm, federal officials said he relocated to Florida, where he was taken into custody.