A self-described 'fire goddess' has been accused of setting a vehicle full of people alight during a blazing row over the prescription drug Xanax. Two of the passengers inside were asleep and a propane tank sat among the equipment stored in the car.
Incident Details
Nicole Najlis, 30, was arrested after a fire at a truck stop in Hesperia, California, shortly after midnight on Tuesday. She has been charged with attempted murder and arson following an incident that left two vehicles destroyed. According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, officers were called to reports of vehicles on fire. Najlis was later arrested nearby and her bail was set at $1 million.
Background of the Dispute
The allegations stem from what began as a road trip back to Las Vegas after a visit to the San Diego area. James Bahr said he had been travelling with Najlis and several other people when the journey took a dramatic turn. Bahr, a professional pyrotechnician, said he knew Najlis through a mutual friend. He claimed he had recently tried to help her after she fell on difficult circumstances. The group had originally travelled to attend a music festival. Instead, the trip home ended with police, flames and a vehicle that Bahr says he had owned for barely a fortnight.
According to Bahr, trouble started when Najlis repeatedly asked him for prescription Xanax. He said he refused to hand over the medication and an argument followed. The dispute allegedly escalated while Bahr was driving. He claims Najlis punched him in the head, forcing him to pull over at a petrol station. Bahr said he asked her to leave the vehicle but she refused. As he began removing her belongings, he noticed something else. A strong smell of fuel was suddenly hanging in the air.
The Fire and Escape
Bahr alleges that moments later Najlis threw a match. 'As soon as I said, “what is that smell?” she threw a match and lit the car on fire,' he told The California Post. Fortunately, the commotion woke both of the sleeping passengers up before the flames trapped them. They managed to escape and no injuries were reported. Bahr said the situation became even more dangerous because of what was inside the vehicle. Alongside his belongings were propane tanks and equipment used in professional fire effects work. He claims one of the propane tanks exploded around 30 seconds after the blaze began. Had events unfolded slightly differently, the consequences could have been deadly.
Aftermath and Losses
By the time the fire was extinguished, the vehicle had been reduced to a blackened shell. Bahr said he lost tools, equipment and personal possessions in the blaze. The loss was particularly painful because he had bought the vehicle only two weeks earlier. Bahr estimates the total damage at roughly $12,000. Without comprehensive insurance, he has since launched a fundraising campaign to help cover the costs.
Public Persona and Legal History
The allegations have attracted extra attention because of Najlis's public persona. Using the name 'Cosmic Nymph', she has built a profile around artistic performances involving fire. Bahr was blunt when asked about the woman now accused of destroying his vehicle. He described her as 'a danger to society'. Court records show Najlis has previously had encounters with law enforcement involving allegations that include assault, disorderly conduct and traffic-related offences. Najlis is due to appear in court on Thursday as the case heats up.
