Federal and local investigators have taken into custody a 29-year-old man from Florida, identifying him as the suspect accused of igniting the blaze that became the catastrophic Palisades Fire in Los Angeles earlier this year.
The arrest follows a multi-agency investigation involving the ATF, Los Angeles Fire Department, and U.S. Attorney’s Office, which gathered evidence including surveillance video, cellphone records, and witness accounts. Authorities allege the suspect started a smaller fire in the Pacific Palisades region in early January—what is known as the Lachman Fire—that smoldered underground before erupting into the larger inferno days later.
The Palisades Fire ultimately claimed 12 lives, destroyed thousands of structures, and scorched over 23,000 acres. In announcing the arrest, prosecutors emphasized the severity of the damage and lives lost, indicating that the suspect faces federal arson and destruction charges.
Authorities say the suspect will be transferred to California to stand trial, where he could face a lengthy prison sentence if convicted. The case marks a significant breakthrough in one of Los Angeles’s most destructive wildfires in history.