By Gary Meyer
The Mountain Enterprise

FRAZIER PARK, Calif. (Thursday, Oct. 2 at 6:30 p.m.) —  The story of a Wildfire in the hills of southern Lockwood Valley, reported at 10:45 a.m. this morning, has expanded to include a crime-scene where, according to Ventura County Sheriff’s Sr. Deputy Ryan Clark, a sexual assault may have occurred. At this time the cause of the fire is unknown, according to Incident Commander John Abell with the U.S. Forest Service. No connection between the fire and the possible assault has yet been reported.

The wildfire was contained within a three acre area about two miles south of Lockwood Valley Road near the TXI (Pacific Custom Materials) plant. Helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft and ground crews appeared to have the fire under control by 1 p.m. Ventura County’s Helicopter 7 and Kern County’s Helicopter 408 made numerous water drops while fixed-wing aircraft dropped fire retardant.

According to Clark, a vehicle was found in the course of the firefighting operation and a female, possibly a victim of a sexual assault, was located near the fire scene.

Return to this page for updates, as they become available.

An earlier report of a body being found at the vehicle near the fire, Sr. Deputy Clark says is unfounded.

See the unrelated story of a body found at Chuchupate Campground.

This is part of the September 26, 2008 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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