Omaha, Neb. ? Three bodies were found burning in heavy brush in the northern part of the city early Wednesday, and police were investigating what’s believed to be the first triple homicide here since 2000.

The bodies of three males were found about 5:45 a.m. after dispatchers received a report of a brush fire in the area, Omaha Police Capt. Mike Butera said.

The bodies remained at the scene 11 hours after a passerby called 911 operators to report the fire. Butera said autopsies would be performed this morning.

Police had not determined the cause of deaths or whether the men were killed at the scene or elsewhere, Butera said. The ages and races of the victims also were unknown, he said.

No families had come forward to report anyone missing, Butera said.

The fire was not widespread, and police believe the bodies were placed next to it, Butera said.

“Any time you have three dead bodies, I would categorize that as being a nasty scene,” Butera said.

Two people who live nearby — Vicki Dinsmore, 65, and Frank Rutar, 78 — said they heard police sirens Wednesday morning, a rarity in a neighborhood where occasional traffic accidents typically generate the most excitement.

“This is really a quiet area,” Dinsmore said.

The triple homicide is believed to be the first since June 2000, when a man who was scheduled to be in court on a domestic assault charge killed his live-in girlfriend, his two young sons and then turned the gun on himself.

Justin Jensen, 20, killed Crystal Granholm, 21 and his sons Austin, 3, and Christian, 2. Their bodies were found with single gunshots to the head at a northwest Omaha apartment complex two days before his court date.