Man Dies in Brush Fire by Riverside Freeway
- Share via
Firefighters found a burned body Thursday after extinguishing a small brush fire alongside the Riverside Freeway at Imperial Highway, police said.
The identity of the 38-year-old man, believed to be a transient, was withheld, said Sgt. Joe Vargas. Investigators believe he fell asleep or passed out near a burning campfire.
Preliminary findings from the coroner’s office point to smoke inhalation as the cause of the death, police said.
The fire burned in a 30-foot area where transients were camped.
“We believe it is an accident,” Vargas said.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
