Charred human remains have been found in a burned out car on Gladwin Road in South Abbotsford.

A patrol officer responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle parked next to a berry field in the 400 block of Gladwin around 4 p.m. on Thursday, said Const. Ian MacDonald.

"At first glance the officer thought it was just a vehicle arson but on closer inspection determined there were human remains inside," said MacDonald.

The vehicle, believed to be some sort of sedan, was not smoking or in flames when the officer arrived.

Nobody reported the vehicle burning to police, he added.

The Abbotsford Police forensics team and major crime unit responded immediately and Chief Bob Rich was also on scene.

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) has been called out and has taken over the investigation.

Homicide and forensic investigators are combing the scene to see what they can learn, said IHIT spokesman Cpl. Dale on Friday.

Investigators have not determined the gender, ethnicity or identity of the victim.

It's too early to say if the victim in the car was targeted, said Carr.

The blaze that consumed the vehicle was so intense, investigators are having difficulty making out the model or even colour of the car.

"At first blush it appears to be a North American vehicle," he said.

Investigators have determined the car burned within 24 hours of the call to police.

"One priority is to tighten the time as to when the fire occurred," said Carr.

Area resident John Toews, 67, said he was woken up by a series of explosions in the early hours of Thursday morning.

"It probably happened somewhere before four or five in the morning, because I heard an explosion and banging or something, and it woke me up," said Toews who added the car in the middle of a raspberry field is at least 600 feet from his home.

"The sounds weren't clear...It was a number of little bangs like on Halloween and all of a sudden huge one and a tapping sound."

Toews didn't see anything.

"There are several hedges of trees between us ... so it's not very clear. And the only thing I can see [out my window] is my chicken barn."

He didn't go outside to have a look because it occurred to him it might not be safe.

"When you have people like that around, you don't want to mingle with that kind of mentality."

The RCMP helicopter Air One and police dog teams were deployed to aid with the investigation.

A perimeter has been set up around the car, and the search for evidence is expected to continue into Saturday.

Check back at Abbynews.com for updates.

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