California woman accused of igniting Fawn Fire says she was boiling water that contained bear pee

A California woman who refers to herself as a shaman was charged with igniting the Fawn Fire, a blaze that has destroyed more than 40 homes and around 90 other structures, reports SFGate. Pleading not guilty, she said she started it by accident in an attempt to quench her thirst by … boiling water that contained bear urine. She is suspected of setting other fires in the state, a district attorney said. Firefighters expressed confidence they can contain the blaze this week. We are less confident about the soundness of the thirst defense—and the health of the alleged fire starter.

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