EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. -- A trail of blood found not far from a charred body at an El Dorado County wildfire is leading investigators to suspect foul play.

Crews were called at 2 a.m. to douse a 5-acre blaze near the town of Kelsey. When firefighters got to the bottom of the canyon where the fire began, they discovered the sport utility vehicle and body.

Sgt. Bryan Golmitz of the El Dorado County Sheriff's Department said based on evidence that authorities cannot specifically talk about, including the path the vehicle took off the roadway, the department thinks the incident was a result of foul play.

Samples of the blood found on Highway 193 were taken to a crime lab to be examined to find where the blood came from, and if the blood trail had anything to do with the SUV leaving the roadway.

Homicide investigators were called in following the discovery in a canyon between South Fork Road and Rock Creek Road, near Highway 193.

Investigators are studying a path that was cut down the hillside, which they think was made by the vehicle.

The SUV was completely burned and it appeared human remains were in the passenger side compartment, Golmitz said.

Police said one theory is that the driver died as the SUV tumbled down into the canyon. The fire may have started when it caught fire.

The vehicle appeared to be traveling along Rock Creek Road, investigators said, when for some reason it left the roadway and fell down a steep embankment. The road does not have a guardrail in the area.

The name of the person who died and the cause of death were not immediately known. Identification will be delayed because of the fire damage the person sustained, Golmitz said.

A forensic autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death.

The blaze was contained as of Wednesday morning.