Defense lawyers for Jonathan Rinderknecht, 30, say he didn’t start the blaze and tried to help officials as it burned

A New Year’s Day fire led to the destructive Palisades Fire. Jonathan Rinderknecht is charged with three federal crimes.

In Palisades fire trial, a federal judge had barred prosecutors from telling jurors about defendants' alleged Bible burning and threat to burn his sister's home. But she expressed concerns that a defense attorney's questioning left the impression he had never shown interest in lighting fires.

Opening statements have begun in the federal arson trial for the man accused of sparking last year's deadly Palisades Fire in and around Los Angeles.

The jury in the case of the alleged Palisades firestarter listened to the troubling 9-1-1 calls that the accused man made after starting the blaze on New Year’s Eve.

An ATF agent testified Jonathan Rinderknecht was dealing with major anxiety and anger issues when he allegedly caused a fire in 2025 that later reignited as the destructive and deadly Palisades blaze.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A federal arson trial began Monday for the man accused of sparking last year’s deadly Palisades Fire as the area struggles to rebuild and the aftermath reverberates through the Los Angeles mayor’s race.

Aerial footage shows the aftermath of a fire that broke out at a building complex in the Pacific Palisades, where ex-reality TV star turned L.A. mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt has an office. The Palisidian-Post reported that Los Angeles Fire Department arson investigators were dispatched to the Highlands Circle complex,