Almost three months after the flames engulfed Altadena, the number of deaths of the Eaton fire climbed at 18 on Wednesday after the investigators of the County Legalist’s office discovered human remains.
A six -person special operations response team responded to Boston Street Block 900 on Wednesday to investigate potential human remains, the medical forensic office said in a statement. After conducting an investigation, the team confirmed that the remains were human.
The new death leads to the total death during the January storm from January to 30. At least 18 people died in the fire Eaton in Altadena and at least 12 people in the fire of the palisades in the Pacific palisades.
The recently discovered victim, found in a Boston Street Street block with the main trade route of Altadena, Lake Avenue, seems to be the first death of the Eaton Fire east of Lake Avenue.
Until now, all the deaths of the fire Eaton occurred west of Lake Avenuewhere the residents received no evacuation order before around 3:30 am on January 8.
The last human remains of the late Eaton were discovered more than two and a half months ago. January 15. The office of the medical examiner confirmed that Barbara Lewis, 84, died at his home in Altadena of the inhalation of combustion products and thermal injuries.
A few days later, the authorities discovered the last human remains of the fire of the Palisades: Elizabeth Morgan, a 79 -year -old psychologist and hairdresser, died in her home in the Tahitian terrace of the Pacific Palisades, confirmed the office of the medical examiner on January 20. The cause of death is always the subject of an investigation.
The last person confirmed that the dead in the January FireTorm died at the hospital on January 25. Hak Wong, 69, died of blunt trauma and thermal burns in the fire of the Palisades, according to the office of the medical examiner.
Investigators from the Legalist’s office are now working to identify the remains found on Wednesday in Altadena.
The charred and burned state of remains after an intense fire makes the identification process a challenge. The Legalist’s office strives to identify organisms thanks to a variety of scientific methods, such as comparison of dental and DNA files, examination of medical records and the use of x -rays to search for medical prostheses / devices. The office also works with organizations responsible for applying laws to collect information on suspected missing people.
“Due to the complexity of these methods and the process, it can take considerable time to confirm the identity of a deceased in these types of cases,” said the doctor’s office statement.
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