A Palo Alto woman is allegedly responsible for starting a wildfire in Shasta County that led to some residents being evacuated.
Alexandra Souverneva, 30, is being charged with arson to wildland, and an added enhancement due to the declared state of emergency California is currently under, according to reporting by KTVU.
The wildfire, dubbed the Fawn Fire, was started Wednesday in a deep and remote canyon on private property near Fawndale Road, north of Mountain Gate. A woman was spotted trespassing and acting erratically, fire officials said.
After the fire began spreading, a woman later identified as Souverneva emerged from the brush near the fire line. She approached firefighters battling the flames saying she was dehydrated and needed medical attention.
After receiving medical treatment, Souverneva was interviewed by law enforcement officers who determined that she caused the fire.
The Fawn Fire forced evacuations in unincorporated Mountain Gate, north of Redding at the far north end of the Central Valley. A nearby shelter in Redding was made available to residents.
The number of residents affected was not immediately known. People living in other areas were also warned to be prepared to leave if more evacuations are ordered.
By Friday morning, the fire had grown to 5,850 acres since it started Wednesday afternoon and was just 10% contained.
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