Charred Body Found At Scene Of Mount Wilson Observatory Fire

LOS ANGELES, CA — Authorities Thursday were working to identify a charred body found at the scene of a 50-acre brush fire that broke out near the Mount Wilson Observatory in the San Gabriel Mountains above Altadena, and which was listed Thursday as 45 percent contained.

The fire broke out for unknown reasons about 4:45 a.m. Tuesday in the general area of Mount Wilson-Red Box Road and led to the precautionary evacuation of the landmark mountaintop observatory, and also threatened at one point to damage an array of telecommunications towers.

Crews gained the upper hand on the active flames by Wednesday, but remained at the scene for a third consecutive day, working to douse hot spots, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

The unidentified charred remains, described only as those of a male, were found on Wednesday afternoon, said coroner's Assistant Chief Ed Winter.

After the fire began, deputies from the sheriff's Crescenta Valley Station helped evacuate the observatory's employees, and about 140 residents of the Chantry Flats area were notified about the fire but not ordered to evacuate.

A quick response by personnel using water-dropping helicopters and air tankers helped firefighters on the ground keep the blaze in check.

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