Authorities responded to a report of a gasoline tank on fire in the driveway of a home in the 200 block of Avenida De Los Arboles at about 8:40 p.m. No further details about the incident were released, but after speaking with Bynes, deputies determined that the 27-year-old met the criteria of a 5150 hold.
According to witnesses, Bynes was seen lying next to a small plastic gas container that was burning on the driveway. Neighbors ran out and extinguished the fire as authorities arrived on scene.
"I just see her laying down, stomach up, and her pant legs on fire, trail of fire and gas, and I pulled over," said Andrew Liverpool, a witness. "I thought it was her house, I had known idea."
Liverpool was one of the first to arrive on the scene. While one of Bynes' pant legs was singed, Liverpool said it didn't appear as though she was injured.
"She just seemed real frantic and discombobulated. She wasn't like, not like to where she'd be drunk or on drugs or anything," he recalled.
The homeowner, Bonnie Braatem, said she has no connection to the actress, who grew up in the Thousand Oaks area. She said she had no idea anything was happening until sheriff's deputies knocked on her front door.
"I'm just concerned how my driveway's going to get cleaned up," said Braatem. "I don't want big black spots in my driveway."
State law allows Bynes to be held involuntarily on the mental health evaluation for up to 72 hours. At this time, she has not been charged with a crime.
The troubled actress has been in the news in recent months for a series of scrapes with the law and some bizarre public behavior.
Earlier this month, she was in a New York City courtroom to face charges for allegedly throwing a marijuana bong from her apartment in May. She showed up wearing a long teal wig, black sweatpants and a tank top.
Bynes' next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 26.
In December, she resolved a misdemeanor hit-and-run case after entering into a settlement with other drivers. She was put on probation after driving on a suspended license, which had been temporarily taken away following two hit-and-run cases where she was accused of leaving the scene without providing proper information. She has also pleaded not guilty to drunken driving in a separate case.
Bynes rose to fame starring in Nickelodeon's "All That" and has also starred in several films, including 2010's "Easy A."
