Northern B.C. woman set on fire in brutal attack

A young woman is recovering in hospital after being set on fire in a horrific attack in Northern B.C. earlier this month.

Neighbours in Prophet River, a remote community about 100-kilometres south of Fort Nelson, first called police during the early morning hours of April 11, saying an intoxicated man was threatening people with an axe.

When police arrived from Fort Nelson about an hour later, they found a man covered with blood and scratches armed with a gun outside a house.

"He was now armed with a long-barrelled firearm and was waving that around on the porch," Fort Nelson detachment commander Staff Sgt. Tom Roy told CBC News.

Inside the house, police founda 26-year-old woman suffering from serious injuries.

"He had seriously assaulted her, kicking and punching her and then he poured cologne on her and set her on fire. She had taken quite a beating and then her clothing was burned off. Her skin had been burned," said Roy.

The woman was hospitalized with first- and second-degree burns, but is now recovering, police said.

Aaron Evans, 21, was arrested and faces six charges, including aggravated assault, attempted sexual assault, and breach of probation and is scheduled to appear in court in Fort Nelson next week.