Relative of Woman Accused of Starting Fred Mountain Fires Speaks Out

The woman on the left of this photo is Christine Mitchell, her niece Sammi Jones writes Our Town Reno today.

The 47-year-old was arrested earlier this week near the 1300 block of Freds Mountain Road, on an accusation of intentionally starting multiple fires in the area, resulting in what became known as the Freds Mountain Fire, which then joined with the massive Bug Fire.

Jones says Mitchell recently struggled with addiction issues. “No one in the family expected this from her but in a sad way no one was shocked either,” she writes.

She had two dogs she says but ended up in the hospital a few weeks ago, and then seemingly lost her pets, and at that “moment she took it out on the rest of the world,” she alleges.

Jones is in the picture in the banner of Mitchell’s Facebook profile page and said she felt she needed to speak out, and wanting to help others as well.

“My husband has carpenter experience, landscaping, and mechanic experience and we’d be happy to help anyone who lost their house animal shelters in fencing things along those lines,” she writes saying people can contact her at u/lauriesammi on Instagram.

“As fire personnel responded to the Freds Mountain Fire shortly after it began, Mitchell flagged down responding crews and told them she had intentionally started the fire. Fire personnel then transferred Mitchell into the custody of the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office,” a Washoe County statement indicated.
“Through the investigation, Washoe County Sheriff’s Office deputies and detectives developed probable cause to arrest Mitchell on the following charges: possession of a Controlled Substance (Less than 14 grams) and Arson, 3rd degree.

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