most destructive wildfires

NBA legend Chris Bosh tied to the 2025 Palisades fire case that devastated celebrity homes across LA

The resulting Palisades Fire swept through residential neighborhoods, destroying nearly 7,000 homes and other structures and killing 12 people

NOVEMBER 13, 2026 11:51 AM ESTNOV 13, 2026, 11:51 AM EST

NBA legend Chris Bosh has unexpectedly become part of the legal battle surrounding the devastating 2025 Palisades Fire, which destroyed thousands of homes across Los Angeles, including properties belonging to some of Hollywood's biggest celebrities.

The former Miami Heat superstar's $11 million mansion is now at the center of a disputed piece of evidence in the federal arson case against Jonathan Rinderknecht, the man accused of starting the blaze that eventually became one of the most destructive wildfires in Los Angeles history

Flames from the Palisades Fire burn a building on Sunset Boulevard amid a powerful windstorm

According to a November 12, 2026, report by the California Post, attorneys representing Rinderknecht want to introduce testimony suggesting that fireworks may have been launched from Bosh's property near the area where an earlier fire began.

Why Is Chris Bosh's $11 Million Mansion Connected to the Palisades Fire?

The surprising connection involves a luxury Pacific Palisades property reportedly owned by Bosh, a two-time NBA champion who played alongside LeBron James and Dwyane Wade during the Miami Heat's championship era.

According to the California Post, the mansion was being rented out when the January 2025 fires began.

The property has entered the courtroom debate because defense attorneys claim a retired California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection investigator identified marks that could indicate a firework had been launched from the residence.

The investigator, Michael T. Cole, reportedly examined photographs showing discoloration and what the defense describes as a burn and smoke trail near the property's driveway and rear patio.

Rinderknecht's attorney, Steve Haney, wants Cole to testify about those observations as part of the defense's argument that fireworks, rather than his client, may have caused the initial blaze. The defense has not established that fireworks were launched from Bosh's property or that any such fireworks caused the fire.

Prosecutors Challenge the Alleged Fireworks Evidence

Federal prosecutors are pushing back against the defense's proposed witness. According to court filings described by the California Post and TMZ, prosecutors argue that Cole lacks the relevant expertise to determine whether the marks resulted from fireworks.

Acting United States Attorney Bill Essayli points to images on the TV screen that are those suspect Jonathan Rinderknecht allegedly created through ChatGPT that federal authorities say show a city burning

They also question the reliability of his findings, saying the opinion relies on six drone photographs rather than direct physical examination or scientific testing of the marks. The prosecution maintains that Rinderknecht deliberately started a fire using a lighter on January 1, 2025.

His defense denies that allegation and argues that investigators have not adequately ruled out alternative explanations.

Importantly, Haney has indicated that Cole would not testify about the ultimate origin or cause of the wildfire. His proposed testimony would be limited to the alleged physical evidence associated with fireworks.

Defense attorney Steve Haney, foreground, walks out of the United States Courthouse after a federal jury says it is at a standstill and cannot reach a unanimous verdict in the Palisades fire arson trial

Bosh's connection remains one of property ownership, not alleged criminal involvement.

What Started the Deadly 2025 Palisades Fire?

The investigation centers on two fires that prosecutors believe were connected. The first, known as the Lachman Fire, began on January 1, 2025, in the Pacific Palisades area. Federal investigators allege that the earlier blaze continued smoldering underground before resurfacing six days later, on January 7, during powerful winds.

The resulting Palisades Fire swept through residential neighborhoods, destroying nearly 7,000 homes and other structures and killing 12 people.

The Palisades Fire burns homes on the Pacific Coast Highway amid a powerful windstorm

The destruction affected wealthy coastal communities, longtime homeowners, local businesses and thousands of residents who lost places they had called home for decades. According to Reuters, the disaster caused an estimated $150 billion in losses.

Rinderknecht's first trial ended in June 2026 without a verdict after jurors deadlocked, with 10 of the 12 favoring acquittal.

His retrial began in November 2026, with federal prosecutors pursuing revised charges. He has pleaded not guilty and remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

An aerial view of construction workers rebuilding houses which were destroyed in the Palisades Fire on June 25, 2026 in Pacific Palisades, California.

Which Celebrities Lost Their Homes in the 2025 Palisades Fire?

The latest development involving Bosh brings renewed attention to the Hollywood celebrities whose homes were destroyed in the January 2025 disaster.

Among the most recognizable names affected were actors, television personalities, musicians, and entertainment industry veterans.

Families in shock begin to visit their charred homes in the Los Angeles area — Families in shock begin to visit their chartered homes in the Los Angeles area

Comedian and actor Billy Crystal was among the celebrities who suffered a devastating personal loss. Crystal and his wife, Janice, lost their Pacific Palisades home, where they had lived since 1979. The property held decades of family memories, including raising their children and spending time with their grandchildren.

Crystal confirmed the loss in a statement and expressed gratitude for the support of family and friends.

Reality television star and entrepreneur Paris Hilton also experienced a heartbreaking loss when her Malibu beachfront home was destroyed. Hilton revealed that she watched television coverage showing the property engulfed in flames.

Paris Hilton Malibu home which burnt in the Palisades fire on February 15, 2025 in Malibu, California. (Photo by MEGA/GC Images) — Paris Hilton Malibu home which burnt in the Palisades fire on February 15, 2025 in Malibu, California.

The destruction was especially emotional because the home represented family memories rather than simply another luxury real estate investment.

Hollywood couple Adam Brody and Leighton Meester reportedly lost their Pacific Palisades residence just days after attending the 2025 Golden Globe Awards. The couple, who married in 2014 and share two children, had purchased the property in 2019.

Other celebrities whose properties were reported destroyed included Oscar-winning actor Anthony Hopkins, actor Miles Teller and his wife Keleigh, and The Princess Bride star Cary Elwes.

Ben Affleck, Guillermo del Toro, and Mark Hamill Evacuated as Los Angeles Wildfires Rage — Flames from the Palisades Fire burn a home on January 7, 2025 in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.

Tina Knowles, Beyoncé's mother, lost her Malibu bungalow, while Shark Tank personality Barbara Corcoran reported the destruction of her property in the Tahitian Terrace mobile home community.

Although the celebrity losses attracted significant media attention, the wildfire also displaced thousands of people outside the entertainment industry.