Homicide detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department  are investigating the death of a man who was found set ablaze early Saturday morning in the area of the Interstate-5 and Templin Highway near the Angeles National Forest.

The unidentified man was found on a back road east of the Interstate 5 about four miles north of Castaic in rural northern Los Angeles County.

Detectives learned that the victim was discovered by a passerby who reported what was originally thought to be a small trash fire, according to a sheriff’s press release.

Fire Department personnel responded shortly after midnight, extinguished the blaze and discovered the victim, the information said.

At first, personnel and detectives were unable to determined whether the victim was a male or female due to the severity of the burns, said sheriff’s deputy Derrick Thompson.

There was no further information available at the time.

Sheriff’s homicide urges anyone with information regarding the incident to call (323) 890-5500.