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Palo Alto woman charged with arson for California’s ‘Fawn Fire’

Alexandra Souverneva is accused of setting a blaze near the location where the Fawn Fire began. Shasta County Jail

A California wildfire, possibly sparked by an unstable woman, has destroyed 100 homes and buildings, burned through more than 7,000 acres and forced more than 8,000 people to evacuate, according to reports.

The Fawn Fire, burning north of Redding, was allegedly sparked by Alexandra Souverneva, 30, who is facing felony arson charges in relation to the blaze, according to Fox News.

The Palo Alto woman was apparently trespassing near a quarry in a remote canyon and “acting irrationally” when she walked out of the brush near the fire claiming she needed medical treatment, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said this week.

Sourverneva had a working lighter in her pocket when she was arrested, SF Gate reported.

The Fawn Fire was just 10 percent contained as of Saturday but firefighters were hoping for a helping hand from cooler temperatures and a Monday forecast of rain.

The woman was trespassing near a remote canyon, as she walked out of the brush claiming she needed medical treatment. AP
Alexandra Sourverneva had a working lighter in her pocket when she was arrested. AP