Man Charged With Sparking Destructive Wildfire

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Authorities have charged a 29-year-old man with igniting the January fire that destroyed Los Angeles’ Pacific Palisades neighborhood. Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli says Jonathan Rinderknecht was arrested in Florida on Tuesday. He faces charges including malicious destruction by means of a fire in the New Year’s Day fire that burned down much of the Pacific Palisades a week later. Rinderknecht appeared briefly in court Wednesday. His public defender did not respond to requests for comment. The Palisades Fire killed 12 people and destroyed more than 6,800 homes and buildings in the wealthy coastal neighborhood of LA.