Palo Alto Woman Suspected Of Starting Fast-Spreading Fawn Fire

PALO ALTO, CA — A Palo Alto woman was arrested on suspicion of starting the fast-spreading Fawn Fire that has burned 1,200 acres and forced evacuations in Shasta County on Thursday near Redding.

Alexandra Souverneva, 30, was seen trespassing in the area where the fire broke out — near Fawndale Road north of Mountain Gate — Wednesday afternoon and “acting irrationally,” according to Cal Fire. At around 8 p.m., she walked out of the brush near the fire line and approached firefighters who were fighting the fire, telling them she was dehydrated and needed medical treatment, Cal Fire said.

Cal Fire law enforcement officers determined that Souverneva was responsible for starting the fire after interviewing her. She was booked into the Shasta County Jail on recommended charges of arson to wildland.

As of 11 a.m. Thursday, the fire was 5 percent contained and threatening 2,000 structures, with over 500 personnel and 53 engines on hand. Windy conditions overnight Wednesday caused the fire to spot in “many areas,” according to Cal Fire, and the fire continues to burn in heavy and dense timber.

Evacuation orders were issued for all roads off Bear Mountain between Dry Creek and Old Oregon Trail, and all roads off Old Oregon Trail between Bear Mountain north of Interstate 5. On Thursday afternoon, an evacuation warning was added for all roads west of I-5 to the railroad tracks and on the north side of Shasta Dam Boulevard north of Old Oregon Trail.