Body found in ashes of Castaic brush fire

Firefighters putting out a small brush fire north of Castaic on Monday morning discovered a body in the smoldering ashes, authorities said.

Sheriff's Department and coroner's investigators have been called to the scene of the early morning fire off Interstate 5 at Templin Highway, where flames were reported at 5:39 a.m., said Ed Pickett, a Los Angeles County Fire Department supervising dispatcher.

The fire was knocked down in about an hour, he said.

Firefighters found the body as they were dousing embers, said Robert Diaz, a spokesman for the Fire Department. An identity or gender was not immediately available.

Investigators were trying to determine what caused the brush fire.

-- Catherine Saillant

Photo: Investigators collect evidence at the sight of an early-morning brush fire where a body was discovered. Credit: Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times