The death toll from the severe southern California wildfires, which occurred in January, continues to increase.
On Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Medical Examination Office reported the discovery of additional human remains in a home in Altadena.
Crews had responded to the area on Monday and quickly confirmed that the remains were from a human with ties to the Eton fire.
This marks the first identification of wildfire casualties since early April.
This unidentified person adds to the ongoing list of victims documented by LA County from the January fire incidents. Currently, there are 31 confirmed deaths, with 12 linked to the Palisade Fire and 19 associated with the Eton Fire.
The Medical Examiner’s Office typically employs various scientific techniques to identify severely damaged bodies, including dental records, DNA analysis, and radiographs. They also explore prosthetic serial numbers, among other identification methods.
The prosecutor’s office collaborates with local law enforcement to streamline searches by matching missing persons reports with their findings.
“Given the intricate nature of these processes, it can often take a significant amount of time to confirm the identities of the deceased in such cases,” an official explained.
There’s currently no specified timeline available for when the latest victim will be positively identified.
Out of the 31 victims reported, only one remains unidentified despite confirmation of their death from the fire. This individual was found on January 14th in the 600 block of Lomas Avenue in Palisades.
A complete list of confirmed casualties from the Eton and Palisade fires can be accessed on the LA County Medical Examination Office’s website.
