GLEN BURNIE, Md. (WJZ) — A fire investigation has started in Anne Arundel County after a body was found inside a burning RV Monday morning.

“It was really weird because I got out of my car and there was, like, this odd smell in the air, but I had no idea what was going on,” said Samuel Reyna.

The fire broke out before dawn in a wooded area, just off Ritchie Highway near the Beltway Crossing Shopping Center.

Anne Arundel County Police said someone saw smoke and flames and called 911.

Down an access road in the woods, firefighters discovered the RV burning while investigating a report of a brush fire.

Shortly after knocking back the flames, they found a man’s body inside.

Police can’t say yet whether the man died as a result of the fire or had already passed and are now investigating.

“We don’t know at this time if this was a horrible accident or if it was something criminal,” said Sergeant Jaclyn Davis. “So our homicide detectives are on their way out here right now, as well as the medical examiner’s office, to determine if this is a crime or if this was a horrible accident.”

By mid-morning, shopping center employees arrived to a flurry of police cars blocking plaza entrances.

“So when I got to work, there were probably 20 cop cars here, two fire trucks and like an EMT-like wagon,” said William Schumacher, an employee.

Police said there are sometimes homeless camps set up in these woods., but this man was found in a camper vehicle.

Police are now working to narrow down if this fire took a life, or covered up a crime.

They said they were unsure of how long the RV had been parked in that area. Police haven’t released the victim’s age or name yet.

No other information was released.