Burned body found after crews respond to small brush fire in Santa Clarita

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (KABC) -- A burned body was discovered following a small brush fire in Santa Clarita overnight, triggering a death investigation.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department responded to the brush fire near Soledad Canyon Road and Penlon Way just before 10 p.m. Tuesday. It burned about half an acre before firefighters knocked out the flames behind homes in a gated community.

That's when a body was found. However, details on who exactly discovered the body were unclear.

Investigators don't suspect any foul play.

People out for a morning stroll along the Santa Clara River on Wednesday were caught off guard to see L.A. County sheriff's investigators near the edge of the dry riverbed.

Residents like Diana Alvarez said they've seen homeless people light fires along the river when temperatures drop.

"It's scary because sometimes we get those winds and we could lose our homes because of the fires and it's very scary because they start lighting them all through here and I always call the fire department and turn it in," Alvarez said.

Those walking the river said it's unfortunate someone was found dead.

"It's really, really sad because that was a person, a human person, regardless of their situation in life," Dolores Holguin said.

Investigators are working with the medical examiner to identify the body so they can notify family.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.