A Bay Area woman was arrested on arson charges for starting the Fawn Fire in California, which has burned more than 8,500 acres.
Alexandra Souverneva, 30, is facing a felony arson charge with an enhancement of committing arson during a state of emergency. Souverneva pleaded guilty and is next scheduled to be in court on October 5.
The fire began last Wednesday, and according to Cal Fire, the blaze was 60 percent contained as of Monday. As a result of the fire, thousands of people have been forced to evacuate the area.
According to court documents obtained by Record Searchlight, the woman claimed to be hiking to Canada. She lit a fire to boil water from a puddle that contained bear urine to drink. She was found in possession of a lighter, CO2 cartridge, and a “green, leafy substance she admitted to smoking that day.”
During a press conference on Friday morning, Shasta County District Attorney Stephanie Bridgett said that Souverneva might be linked to other fires in the county and elsewhere in California. She said that additional charges are likely.
