Human skeletal remains found in Southern California mountains amid wildfire

KTLA — Investigators in San Bernardino County have launched an investigation after human skeletal remains were found off the highway in Running Springs, officials announced Sunday afternoon.

The discovery of the remains happened just before 4 p.m. Saturday when sheriff’s deputies with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department’s Twin Peaks Station were on a “proactive patrol” in a closed area off Highway 330, south of City Creek Road, according a SBSD news release.

The bones, the release states, were ultimately determined to be human remains, prompting the county’s coroner’s office to respond to the scene.

“The bones appear to have been in that location for an extended period of time and investigators do not believe the cause of death is related to the fire,” officials said.

The Line Fire, which started on Sept. 5 near Base Line Road in Highland has burned an estimated 38,800 acres and, as of the most recent update Sunday, was 42% contained. Officials also said the fire remained active into Sunday because of a dry air mass at higher elevations.

“The fire is still smoldering and creeping in dry vegetation,” Cal Fire said in a Sunday afternoon update. “Firefighters are continuing building and strengthening control lines and mopping up hot spots.”

Preliminary damage assessments indicate that only three structures have been damaged with one destroyed; three civilian and firefighter injuries have been reported.

Evacuation orders remain in place for some areas.  More information can be found on Cal Fire’s Line Fire incident page .

The coroner’s office has since collected the bones and was working to identify the person and determine a cause of death.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.