A 65-year-old man whose burned remains were found in a makeshift dwelling in a storm drain behind a gas station in the unincorporated Willowbrook area near Watts was identified by county authorities Thursday.
The California Highway Patrol was alerted by the Los Angeles Fire Department around 8:25 a.m. on Oct. 29 that remains had been found in a storm drain behind a gas station at 1340 E. Imperial Highway, just north of the Glenn Anderson (105) Freeway, an officer said.
The man, later identified by the Los Angeles County medical examiner’s office as Ronald Malone, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the CHP.
The medical examiner listed his cause of death as thermal injures and inhalation of combustion products.
Earlier that day, at about 1:50 a.m., the LAFD received reports of a fire at the same location.
Crews put the fire out, “however, due to lighting conditions, smoke and foam fire retardant, LAFD personnel did not discover the deceased below,” according to a CHP statement.
“The preliminary investigation suggests that the storm drain, where (Malone) was located, was utilized as an encampment containing a bed and miscellaneous clothing items on the upper portion, with additional makeshift living quarters on the lower portion within the storm drain,” according to the CHP. “It is unknown at this time how the fire initially started; however, the flames quickly engulfed the entire encampment above and below.”
Anyone with information regarding the fatal fire was urged to call the CHP’s Los Angeles Traffic Management Center at 424-551-4000 to speak with investigating Officer Flores.
After business hours, calls should be directed to 323-259-3200.