LOS ANGELES, Oct 9— A man suspected of deliberately causing one of the deadliest fires in US history appeared in court yesterday charged with sparking a blaze that tore through Los Angeles in January.

The development comes as the nation’s second-largest city was still grappling with the aftermath of two huge fires that together killed 31 people and left thousands of acres (hectares) in ruins, as they displaced thousands of people.

Jonathan Rinderknecht, a 29-year-old who was arrested on Tuesday, made an initial appearance in a federal court in Florida, where he now lives, charged with destruction of property by means of fire.

“The complaint alleges that a single person’s recklessness caused one of the worst fires Los Angeles has ever seen, resulting in death and widespread destruction in Pacific Palisades,” Acting United States Attorney Bill Essayli said.

Rinderknecht did not enter a plea and is expected to appear in court again today the US Attorney’s Office said.

Rinderknecht is alleged to have ignited the Palisades Fire in the early minutes of New Year’s Day on a popular hiking trail above the well-heeled suburb, which is home to celebrities and is one of the most sought-after pieces of real estate in the United States.

The blaze was initially contained by firefighters, but smoldered underground in the roots of plants.

Investigators believe powerful winds that swept through the area a week later reignited it.

Those flames grew to engulf Pacific Palisades and parts of Malibu, destroying thousands of homes and killing a dozen people.

A separate fire that erupted in the more modest suburb of Altadena at the same time also caused devastation over a wide area, killing 19 people.