Human remains found at site of Chatsworth brush fire

Firefighters found human remains in the burn footprint of a fire that scorched two acres of brush and caused a partial closure of the Ronald Reagan (118) Freeway in the Chatsworth area Tuesday.

The fire was initially reported to be burning in about a quarter-acre of brush about 1:30 p.m. near the 11100 block of De Soto Avenue, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

The LAFD reported the fire grew to between four and five acres by about 2:40 p.m., prompting authorities to shut down the westbound lanes of the Ronald Reagan Freeway at De Soto Avenue as firefighting efforts were conducted.

Firefighters managed to fully contain the fire by about 3:45 p.m., and updated mapping placed the blaze at two acres.

No injuries were reported and no structures were damaged in the fire, though firefighters working in the area located “bones that appear to be human remains.”

Authorities determined the human remains were not related to the fire, but had yet to uncover the person’s identity or how they died.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

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