Fresno Woman Sets Brush Fire After Locking Keys in Car
Ever been stuck on the side of the road? Wanted to get the authorities' attention? For one Fresno woman, a brush fire did the trick.
Jena Liberty, 48, was driving towards Manhattan Beach, reports the Contra Costa Times. Her car broke down near the I-5 and Highway 138, north of Santa Clarita, at around 4 a.m. - a time of night where foot and car traffic is minimal.
She exited her car, and tried to call for help using the callbox on the side of the highway, but to no avail. She then discovered that she had accidentally locked her keys in her car, reports the Times.
Let us take this moment to reflect upon what her possible choices of actions were. Perhaps she could have waited until another car passed by so she could flag down that driver and borrow their cell phone. Or, she could maybe try to walk to the next freeway call box. As a last resort, maybe she could have waited until whoever she was going to visit realized she hadn't arrived yet and decided to look for her.
Well, Liberty took actions into her own hands. She set a fire, reports the Times.
A fire that burned about half an acre of brush.
Well, her little fire stunt certainly did garner her some attention, and some help. Liberty was arrested on suspicion of arson, according to the Times.
The crime of arson usually occurs when someone intentionally burns property. Basically, the culprit intentionally sets something on fire. If what police are saying is true, then Liberty probably did commit some arson. And, brush fires aren't exactly harmless - take the massive brush fire in Arizona for example, which is threatening homes.
The fire was quickly put out by firefighters in a matter of about 10 minutes, reports The Santa Clarita Valley Signal.
Though the next time you're locked out of your car, setting something on fire may not be the best idea. Especially since for Jena Liberty, Fresno woman and brush fire enthusiast, her fiery call for help seems to have landed her into some legal trouble.
Related Resources:
- Woman sets hillside fire in Gorman (Santa Clarita Valley Signal)
- Arson (FindLaw)
- Arson Charge: Man Sets Own Home on Fire Because of Late Dinner (FindLaw's Legally Weird)
- Arson at Portland Tree Lighting Bomber's Mosque (FindLaw's Blotter)