The Brief Prosecutors told jurors that Jonathan Rinderknecht deliberately started the Jan. 1, 2025 fire that allegedly smoldered and later became the deadly Palisades Fire, citing surveillance footage, 911 calls, and digital evidence. Defense attorneys argued that there is no proof Rinderknecht started the fire and said he was near the area to watch fireworks and acted consistently with someone trying to report and stop the blaze. As the trial began, prosecutors presented evidence about Rinderknecht's alleged motive and online activity, while investigators described extensive witness interviews and reviews of his digital records.



Prosecutors in the federal trial of the man accused of sparking last year's deadly Palisades Fire laid out a narrative for jurors Wednesday of a premeditated arsonist who tried to cover his tracks, while his attorneys offered an alternate story of a man who tried his best to stop the blaze.

Attorneys presented opening statements in the trial of Jonathan Rinderknecht, who has pleaded not guilty to starting what became one of the most destructive wildfires in California history. Whether prosecutors can prove to jurors that Rinderknecht, 29, started a fire in Los Angeles on Jan. 1, 2025, and that it then turned into the Palisades Fire will be at the center of the trial.

Prosecutors say the Jan. 1 fire burned undetected deep in root systems before flaring back up on Jan. 7. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt O'Brien told jurors that security camera footage shows where and when the fire ignited atop a hill, and investigators were able to place Rinderknecht nearby because he called 911 for help 16 times in quick succession on the evening of Jan. 1.

O'Brien said that Rinderknecht was the only person there that evening. He said that after firefighters arrived, Rinderknecht followed them up the hill to take videos of them putting out the blaze. Investigators later seized a barbecue lighter from his car that he admitted to having with him on the trail.

Defense attorney Steve Haney said Rinderknecht was on the hilltop near the fire's ignition that night, but only to watch 

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