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The Times of India

World

TOI World Desk

The legend of California's terrifying Char-Man: How a wildfire gave birth to one of America's haunting legends

California America Ojai

Deep in the rugged hills outside Ojai, California, a lonely bridge and winding mountain road have become the setting for one of the state's most enduring ghost stories. For decades, locals have spoken of Char-Man, a horribly burned figure said to emerge from the surrounding forests after dark, terrifying anyone who dares to enter his territory. According to the legend, the mysterious figure was born from the aftermath of a devastating wildfire that swept through the region in 1948. While the tale has frightened generations of campers and thrill-seekers, historians say the truth behind Char-Man is far more complicated than the legend suggests.

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