A burned corpse has been found in Santa Clarita, California as firefighters in the area struggle to control wildfires that have raged since Friday.
The body was found on Iron Canyon Road, an area of Santa Clarita that authorities had ordered to be evacuated. Officials are trying to determine whether the person was killed by the blaze or another cause
We have multiple #LAFD Strike Teams assigned to the #SandFire as an Agency Assist. #LAFD pic.twitter.com/hCxM2nl0GR
— LA City Local 112 (@UFLAC) July 24, 2016
The fire, which has consumed over 31-square miles, threatens over 1,500 homes and thousands of people have been forced to evacuate the area.
More than 900 firefighters and water-dropping helicopters battled the flames overnight on several fronts after flames driven by gusty winds swept through an evacuated area.
Firefighters reported that some buildings had been engulfed, but it was not immediately clear whether they were homes, outbuildings or garages.
Nathan Judy, a spokesman for the U.S. Fire Service warned that the area was still unsafe:
"You've still got hotspots in that area, a lot of smouldering stuff and trees that might fall because their roots had burned.
"It's not a one-direction type of fire. It's going in different directions depending on which way the wind is blowing. It's doing what it wants."
#LAFDAirOps #SandFire #LAFD | 7.23.16 pic.twitter.com/s1cMvAWQf6
— LAFDAirOps (@LAFDAirOps) July 24, 2016
A number of animals including bengal tigers, mountain lions, horses, goats and rabbits were removed from fire areas.
Despite the efforts of the fire department, the blaze destroyed sets at Sable Ranch in Santa Clarita, which has Old West-style buildings that are used for film locations.
