Nine months after a devastating wildfire swept through Los Angeles, killing 12 people and destroying thousands of homes and businesses, authorities have arrested a suspect in Florida.

Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, faces a federal charge of destruction of property by fire in connection with the Palisades Fire.

Prosecutors allege Rinderknecht, a former Uber driver, showed an obsession with fire, including watching rap videos featuring flames and prompting ChatGPT to generate dystopian images of burning forests.

He appeared in federal court in Orlando, where a public defender was appointed and his detention hearing was continued to Thursday, CNN has reported.

If convicted, Rinderknecht could face up to 20 years in prison.