Man charged over deadly LA wildfire 'used ChatGPT to create image of burning city'
The blaze burned down the Pacific Palisades, a wealthy coastal neighbourhood.
A man has been arrested in connection with a deadly wildfire that destroyed swathes of Los Angeles.
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A man has been arrested in connection with a deadly wildfire that destroyed swathes of Los Angeles.
The fire killed 12 people and destroyed more than 6,000 buildings.
Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, was detained for allegedly starting a fire on New Year's Day, acting US attorney Bill Essayli said.
The blaze burned down the Pacific Palisades, a wealthy coastal neighbourhood full of sea-view mansions.
Rinderknecht was arrested on Tuesday in Florida and will appear in court on Wednesday in the same state.
"While we cannot undo the damage and destruction that was done, we hope his arrest and the charges against him bring some measure of justice to the victims of this horrific tragedy," Mr Essayli said.
Among the evidence was an image the man generated on ChatGPT depicting a burning city.
The flames erupted in Los Angeles on January 7. The fire Rinderknecht set on January 1 smouldered underground before reigniting during high winds, Mr Essayli said.
During an interview with investigators Rinderknecht lied about his location when he noticed the fire, claiming he was near the bottom of the hiking trail.
It was not shared how Rinderknecht started the fire.
The sweeping fires in California ravaged communities, and sent thousands frantically fleeing their properties, including areas dotted with celebrity homes.
Today we are announcing the arrest of 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht on a criminal complaint charging him with maliciously starting what became the Palisades Fire in January.
— Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli (@USAttyEssayli) October 8, 2025
⁰The complaint alleges that Rinderknecht's started a fire in Pacific Palisades on New Year's Day --… pic.twitter.com/UzrFa0Lmrz
Rinderknecht was arrested on Tuesday in Florida and will appear in court on Wednesday in the same state.
"While we cannot undo the damage and destruction that was done, we hope his arrest and the charges against him bring some measure of justice to the victims of this horrific tragedy," Mr Essayli said.
Among the evidence was an image the man generated on ChatGPT depicting a burning city.
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The flames erupted in Los Angeles on January 7. The fire Rinderknecht set on January 1 smouldered underground before reigniting during high winds, Mr Essayli said.
During an interview with investigators Rinderknecht lied about his location when he noticed the fire, claiming he was near the bottom of the hiking trail.
It was not shared how Rinderknecht started the fire.
The sweeping fires in California ravaged communities, and sent thousands frantically fleeing their properties, including areas dotted with celebrity homes.
British film and TV star Richard Armitage called the Los Angeles wildfires “apocalyptic” after fellow actors lost their homes in the raging blazes that have caused a state of emergency in the US city.
TV personality and singer Paris Hilton, When Harry Met Sally star Billy Crystal, The Princess Bride actor Cary Elwes, talk show host Ricki Lake and Oscar-winning songwriter Diane Warren are among those who have confirmed that their residences have been destroyed in the fires.
Thousands of firefighters were attempting to contain the original Palisades fire, with at least 70,000 people forced to evacuate their homes as the metropolitan area became blanketed in a thick cloud of smoke and ash.
The Hobbit film series star Armitage, who has spent time filming in Los Angeles as well as working with Hollywood stars, told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: “There was a lot of texting last night, I’ve got representatives and friends and colleagues (in the area, and) making sure they’re okay, but also thinking they’re busy dealing with evacuations.
“But it is apocalyptic. I’ve never seen it.”
He added that he thinks “people concerned about the Hollywood sign”, need to think more about those who are caught up in the raging Palisades blaze, which burnt nearly 16,000 acres, and seven others across southern California.