Tick Fire 55 Percent Contained, Human Remains Found In Burn Area Prompt Investigation

SANTA CLARITA (CBLSLA) — Human remains were discovered Saturday in a burn area of the Tick Fire, which is now 55% contained, having burned 4,615 acres.

Deputy Morgan Arteaga of the LA County Sheriff's Information Bureau said homicide detectives went to the area to investigate. The remains were found by a public works employee at Sand Canyon and Thompson Ranch Drive. Detectives later determined the adult skeletal remains were not related to the fire and had been out there for about a year.  They're looking through missing persons records in an attempt to identify the body, which may have been dumped at the site.

"We believe that it was concealed in brush and then the fire burned away the concealment and it's lead to the discovery... It's definitely suspicious just on the location alone. I mean, it's not a common place where a person may fall ill and die," said Lt. Derrick Alfred of the LA County Sheriff's Department.

Most evacuations orders had been lifted as of Saturday afternoon and all but one lane of the Antelope Valley Freeway is open.

The right lane and shoulder remained closed from Agua Dulce Canyon Road to Sand Canyon Road for guardrail repair, and the Soledad Canyon Road and Sand Canyon Road off-ramps will remain closed until further notice, Caltrans said.

Tick Canyon Road between Abelia and Summit Knoll also remain closed.

Areas still under mandatory evacuation order were Baker Canyon Road from Sierra Highway, north of Vasquez Canyon Road, top where it ends near 15142 Sierra Highway and the area of Tick Canyon Road from Abelia Road to Summit Knoll Road.

Eighteen structures have been confirmed destroyed and sixteen damaged, although fire officials said that number will likely increase following damage assessments. Around 10,000 structures are under threat in the fire area.

(© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. City News Service contributed to this report.)