3 victims found in plane wreckage near California wildfire

JULIAN, Calif. (AP) — Remains of three people have been found in the wreckage of a small plane that went down and sparked a wildfire in a rugged area of eastern San Diego County last week.

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department says it took considerable effort to reach the victims Sunday on Volcan Mountain and high winds prevented efforts to remove them by helicopter.

A Sheriff’s Department statement says it was not immediately possible to determine whether the wreckage is of a missing plane from Gillespie Field in El Cajon. A 911 caller reported seeing a plane go down Thursday evening.

Cal Fire says the fire burned 12 acres (4.8 hectares) and has been fully contained but mop-up work will continue into midweek.

Volcan Mountain is north of the town of Julian.