The man accused of deliberately lighting the Pacific Palisades wildfires in Los Angeles that killed 12 people has pleaded not guilty to three federal arson-related charges.

Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, is charged with “maliciously” starting a fire in January that was suppressed but continued to smoulder near Pacific Palisades before reigniting a week later amid fierce winds.

On Thursday before a federal court in Los Angeles, he pleaded not guilty to three felony counts in a grand jury indictment returned on October 15 — arson, destruction of property by means of fire and illegally setting timber afire.

If convicted as charged, he would face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a statutory maximum sentence of 45 years behind bars.

A fire burns around an ornate metal staircase

The fire destroyed much of the Pacific Palisades are of Los Angeles.

 

  (AP: Etienne Laurent)

Mr Rinderknecht, who was arrested earlier this month in Florida, was ordered to remain held without bond as he awaits trial.

The defendant tried to insist that he wanted to “talk about” his detention, but his lawyer, Steve Haney, cut him off. 

In seeking bail for his client, Mr Haney had argued that his client essentially was being charged with an arson allegedly committed seven days before a much larger fire for which he is being blamed.

The indictment holds Mr Rinderknecht responsible for one of the most destructive Los Angeles fires on record. 

Before and after the fire ripped through the Pacific Palisades

Landmark buildings, homes, and shopping malls are among the structures destroyed in LA’s affluent Pacific Palisades neighbourhood.

The blaze levelled about 6,000 buildings, with property damage estimated at $US150 billion ($230 billion).

According to prosecutors, Mr Rinderknecht had been working as an Uber driver on New Year’s Eve before dropping a passenger off and heading to a hilltop trail near Pacific Palisades, where he once lived.

Once there, according to court documents, he listened to a rap song whose music video depicted things being set on fire. 

He then proceeded to light a real blaze shortly after midnight and fled the scene, only to return a short time later to watch the flames and firefighters.

The Palisades fire coincided with another massive wind-driven blaze about 56 kilometres to the east known as the Eaton Fire, which wiped out much of the community of Altadena.

Mr Rinderknecht will face trial on December 16.

Reuters