Human Remains Found in Area of Santa Clarita Burned by Tick Fire: LASD

Posted 2:58 PM, October 26, 2019, by Sareen Habeshian and Jennifer McGraw, Updated at 10:16PM, October 26, 2019

Large bones that appeared to belong to a deceased human being were found in Santa Clarita in an area burned by the Tick Fire, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said Saturday.

The remains had likely been there for over a year when a Los Angeles County Public Works crew came across what they thought was a human skeleton, according to Lt. Derrick Alfred of the sheriff's homicide bureau. The crew was there doing post-fire clean up, and they stumbled across the remains, he said.

Based upon the results of the preliminary investigation, it appeared that the remains were at least one year old, and the individual did not die as a result of the Tick Fire, deputies said.

Homicide detectives are still investigating the remains of the unknown individual near the intersection of Sand Canyon Road and Thompson Ranch Drive.

The Tick Fire, which started in Agua Dulce Thursday afternoon, has consumed more than 4,600 acres.

No deaths have been reported as a result of the blaze, according to the multiagency update released Saturday.

Containment of the Tick Fire in the Sand Canyon area of Santa Clarita reached 25% on Saturday, after evacuation orders were lifted for 40,000 people. Some areas remain evacuated as more than 1,300 firefighters continue battling the wildfire.

The fire either damaged or destroyed 18 structures, the Los Angeles County Fire Department said Saturday.

The investigation into the human remains is ongoing and there is no additional information at this time.

Anyone with information can call the department's Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Those wishing to remain anonymous can reach L.A. Crime Stoppers by calling 800-222-8477 or visiting lacrimestoppers.org.

Source: https://ktla.com/2019/10/26/human-remains-found-in-burned-area-of-santa-clarita-unknown-whether-death-is-related-to-tick-fire/