A woman who allegedly deliberately lit multiple grass fires with a blowtorch is accused of assaulting a "good Samaritan" who tried to detain her, a court has heard.
The 27-year-old Waramanga woman faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday, July 23, when she was sent to a mental health hospital for evaluation.
The woman is yet to enter pleas to acting to cause public alarm and common assault.
She is accused of using a gas-powered blowtorch to deliberately light at least four fires on Badimara Street in Fisher and Waldock Street in Chifley on Wednesday.
Two of the larger fires were extinguished by ACT Fire and Rescue.
A member of the public is said to have witnessed the woman light the fires and attempted to stop her. The woman is then accused of assaulting the man as he attempted to detain her.
He attended hospital and was treated for minor injuries.
In court, a prosecutor opposed bail and urged the court to send the woman to a mental health hospital for evaluation as per a recommendation.
The woman, via a defence lawyer, had not consented to being sent to hospital.
The prosecutor said she was accused of a "dangerous act which endangered the safety and welfare of the community".
He told the court a "good Samaritan" had put out some of the fires himself before attempting to detain the woman.
Magistrate James Stewart said he was "deeply concerned" about the woman's mental health and ordered her to be sent to hospital.
She will return to court at a later date.
