Unidentified Burning Body Found in Brea

A man’s burning body was discovered just before dawn Saturday off Carbon Canyon Road in Brea after a passer-by saw flames and called firefighters, authorities said.

Homicide investigators are awaiting the results of an autopsy today in hopes of identifying the man and discovering what killed him, said Orange County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Harold Schaffroth. It was unknown if the victim was dead before his body was set on fire.

The burning body, found near Carbon Canyon Regional Park, ignited a brush fire in a 15-by-30-foot area and was quickly contained by firefighters, said Brea Fire Capt. George Taunton. No gasoline or other flammable liquids were found in the area, Taunton said.

“Nothing was found at the scene other than the body and burning grass,” Taunton said.

The passer-by saw the blaze and called firefighters from a nearby house at 5:45 a.m.

On Sept. 8, a man’s badly burned body was discovered as Westminster firefighters extinguished a 5,000-square-foot brush fire near the Garden Grove Freeway and Old Bolsa Chica Road. Westminster police are looking for two cars that were spotted leaving the area when the first fire engine arrived, shortly before 10 p.m.

Orange County coroner’s officials said Saturday that they have been unable to identify that victim. Westminster police said they are investigating that case as a homicide.