A woman is facing murder charges after the self-proclaimed “fire goddess” allegedly set her friend’s Honda Element ablaze following a fight over Xanax as two people slept inside with a propane tank nearby.
Nicole Najlis, 30, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and arson after the fire broke out at the Pilot truck stop in Hesperia shortly after midnight Tuesday, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. Her bail was set at $1 million.
Deputies arrived to find two vehicles fully engulfed in flames and were directed by witnesses to Najlis, who was later arrested near the area.
The California Post reached out to the involved law enforcement agencies for additional information.
But according to James Bahr, the man who owned the destroyed vehicle, the chaos began hours earlier during a road trip home from San Diego back to Las Vegas with Najlis and three others.
Bahr, a professional pyrotechnician, said he knew Najlis through a friend and had tried to help her after she fell on hard times.
He said Najlis was homeless and coming out of an abusive relationship, staying at a friend’s home, but after the arragnement ended, he allowed her to join the group on the trip.
“The trip was supposed to be to go to a music festival up in the hills of San Diego,” he said.
During the return through California, Bahr said he stopped in Tijuana for lunch while Najlis began drinking at a friend’s house.
He said the confrontation began when Najlis allegedly demanded his prescription Xanax.
“She kept harassing me for my Xanax and I wouldn’t give it to her,” Bahr told The California Post.
The argument turned violent while Bahr was driving.
“She got so upset that she had punched me in the head while I was driving,” he said.
Bahr said the powerful blow caused him to lose control of the steering wheel, forcing him to pull into a gas station.
He said he told Najlis to get out of the vehicle, but she refused, and he began removing her belongings from the car.
Then, Bahr said, he noticed something was wrong.
“She started to move around some of my stuff,” he said. “Then I smell gas and as soon as I said, ‘what is that smell?’ she threw a match and lit the car on fire.”
At the time, two other friends were asleep inside the vehicle.
The commotion woke the sleeping passengers, who were able to escape before the vehicle was destroyed.
Bahr said the situation became even more dangerous because he had propane tanks and fire-effects equipment for his job inside the vehicle.
He said the propane tank exploded about 30 seconds after the fire started.
No injuries were reported.
After the fire was extinguished a burned-out shell of a vehicle remained, with Bahr saying he lost not only his car but also critical equipment, tools and personal belongings in the blaze.
“I got the car two weeks ago, so it was sentimental and we had just dropped like $2k on transporting it,” he said. “This is just insane to me, I’m still shocked.”
He estimated the damage at about $12,000 and said he did not have comprehensive insurance coverage to help recover the money, he’s since launched a GoFundMe to help cover the costs.
“I should have known better,” Bahr said.
Nicole Najlis has an online profile that shows a career built on turning fire into art. A Facebook page shows she has a history working as fire performer, dancer and movement artist.
Bahr described Najlis in blunt terms.
“A danger to society,” he said.
Records show Najlis has had multiple previous encounters with law enforcement involving allegations including assault, disorderly conduct and traffic-related offenses.
Her next court appearance is Thursday.
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