"He had dropped off a passenger in the area on December 31. He then drove to a trailhead called Skull Rock. He then parked, tried to call a former friend and walked up the trail taking videos with an iPhone and listening on YouTube to a French rap video featuring a character setting things on fire."
"Investigators say that Rinderknecht then fled the scene in his car, but returned, following fire engines to the trail, and hiking back up to record video of the flames. That initial brush fire ultimately grew to eight acres. Embers from the fire were reignited on January 7, according to investigators, creating what would become the Palisades Fire which killed 12 people and destroyed over 6,800 structures."
Federal authorities arrested 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht of Melburne, Florida on charges of maliciously starting the Palisades Fire. Investigators used witness statements, video surveillance, cellphone data and fire analysis to link Rinderknecht to the blaze. The federal complaint traces his New Year's Eve movements: after dropping off a passenger he drove to Skull Rock, parked, tried to call a former friend, walked the trail taking videos and listening to a French rap, allegedly set an open-flame fire, called 911 but lacked service, fled, and later returned to record the flames. The initial Lachman Fire grew to eight acres; embers reignited on January 7 and led to the Palisades Fire that killed 12 and destroyed over 6,800 structures.
Read at sfist.com
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