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