By Bond Robertson 
A self-proclaimed 30-year-old California woman risks up to nine years in prison if convicted of committing a massive wildfire that threatens thousands of homes in the state’s north, according to a number of US media outlets.
On Monday morning, the authorities said, the fire extinguished 41 residential homes and 90 smaller buildings, threatening another 2,340 homes.
The woman denies her criminal guilt. She explained that she was thirsty and should only boil the bear urine she was drinking.
BITTEN FIGHT: A large number of firefighters have been called in to fight the flames. Photo: Ethan Swope/AP/NTB
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Police do not trust the woman’s explanation, and are now investigating whether she is behind other wildfires in California.
– She didn’t shoot
According to court documents obtained by a local newspaper, the “shaman” explained in her interrogation that last week she tried to go to Canada on foot. I got thirsty and came across a puddle with what I assumed was bear urine – and tried to make a fire to boil the liquid.
The 30-year-old also explained that she was “too wet to catch fire” – so she drank the liquid awkwardly and kept walking.
Meanwhile, a fire started burning in the forest, and she had to call the firefighters to get out.
The woman was asked to empty the pockets and the abdominal belt she was wearing – among the contents were small gas containers, a lighter and a substance she admitted smoking earlier in the day, fire chief Matt Alexander explained in his interrogation.
discarded containers
The investigation also revealed that local quarry workers saw a woman throwing two small containers of gas similar to those found in “The Shaman” on the same day.
Several thousand: Forest fires threaten thousands of buildings. Photo: Ethan Swope/AP/NTB
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The fire chief’s investigation concluded that it was “highly likely” that the 30-year-old had also started another forest fire the night before. At a news conference, State Attorney Stephanie Bridget said the woman is being investigated for wildfires in both Shasta and other counties.
The woman must be a doctoral student at a university in the state of New York. According to the advocate, she explained herself in a way that might indicate mental problems or “something to do with substance abuse.”
Tell Shasta Mayor Michael L. Johnson Press reported that residents who lost their homes and/or were evacuated as a result of the fire are upset by recent developments in the case.