Federal authorities arrested 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht, a former Uber driver, Tuesday in Florida, charging him with igniting the Lachman Fire that sparked the catastrophic Palisades Fire, which killed 12 and razed over 6,800 structures in Los Angeles.

Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli announced the charges Wednesday, revealing the blaze, one of the city’s deadliest, stemmed from Rinderknecht’s alleged actions on New Year’s Day.

Investigators claim Rinderknecht deliberately set the Lachman Fire near Pacific Palisades’ Skull Rock Trailhead. Smoldering underground, the fire resurfaced January 7 amid fierce winds, erupting into the Palisades Fire, which scorched 23,400 acres.

"A single person’s recklessness caused one of the worst fires Los Angeles has ever seen, resulting in death and widespread destruction," Essayli stated.

Evidence paints a chilling picture. Rinderknecht, a former Palisades resident, drove to the trailhead after an Uber shift, where passengers described him as "agitated and angry."

He hiked to Hidden Buddha clearing, a spot he frequented, and recorded videos while listening to a French rap song featuring fire imagery.

A ChatGPT-generated image on his device depicted a burning forest, prosecutors noted. At 12:12 a.m., UC San Diego cameras detected flames.

Rinderknecht’s 911 calls failed due to poor cell service, though he eventually reported the fire after a resident did.

ATF’s nine-month probe, involving 13,000 evidence items and 200 leads, ruled out fireworks or lightning.

Rinderknecht allegedly used a lighter to ignite vegetation.

He lied to investigators, claiming he saw the fire while descending the trail, but GPS data placed him 30 feet from the blaze’s origin during his 911 call.

"The person who started this fire is solely to blame," said ATF Special Agent Kenny Cooper, deflecting criticism from firefighters who missed the smoldering embers.Rinderknecht faces five to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Uber banned him from their platform upon learning of his involvement.

California Governor Gavin Newsom praised the arrest, stating, "Today’s arrest of 29-year-old Florida resident Jonathan Rinderknecht marks an important step toward uncovering how the horrific Palisades fire began and bringing closure to thousands of Californians."

A McChrystal Group report criticized Los Angeles County’s response, citing staffing shortages and outdated alert systems that delayed evacuations.

Fire experts note embers can lurk for days, as seen in the 1991 Oakland Hills and 2023 Maui fires, both rekindled blazes.

America’s cities burn while one man’s alleged malice ignites chaos.