Funeral director rushes into burning building to save remains

Employees save bodies from burning funeral home

A funeral home went up in flames Sunday, but thanks to quick-thinking a funeral director, all the bodies were removed safely. 

FAIRBURN, Ga. - A funeral home and crematorium caught fire in Fairburn on Sunday afternoon. The owner ran into the burning building to save the remains entrusted to his care.

What we know:

Officials said the blaze broke out at Cook Brothers Funeral Directors and Cremations in the 200 block of NW Broad Street on Sunday afternoon. Fairburn firefighters worked through the night to contain the fire. The city of South Fulton also sent a truck to assist.

Firefighters remained on scene through Monday morning. A FOX 5 crew reported seeing flames as late as 10:45 p.m. Sunday. The fire produced heavy black smoke that blanketed the area. One man was treated for smoke inhalation at a local hospital.

What they're saying:

As the fire broke out, the owner of the business, Pastor Tamarkus Cook, ran inside the building against the wishes of first responders to rescue the remains entrusted to his care.

"If I was not able to get those loved ones out of that facility, I would have been in there with them, amongst them," Cook told FOX 5.

The remains of all five individuals inside the building were successfully removed before any damage was done.

"It’s an amazing thing," Johnny Arnoard said.

Arnoard’s son, Lamar, died three weeks ago and was inside the building when the flames erupted. Arnoard said he learned about the fire on Facebook and immediately rushed to the scene. From the highway, he could see black smoke billowing into the air.

"I wondered, did they get my son out?" he said.

"There is no way in the world that I would have allowed that building to burn down with anyone’s loved one inside without me attempting my very best to get them out," Cook said.

Surrounded by his staff and loved ones, Cook watched as the building he helped restore in 2018 went up in smoke. He thanked first responders who battled the blaze and the community for its support.

The five individuals entrusted to his care were reunited with their loved ones at another local church. Cook said he and his team are prepared to continue serving the community without interruption despite the damage to the building.

"While I’ve lost, in essence, everything that I have, I am so grateful that I didn’t have to have the conversation tonight that your mother was destroyed in a fire that destroyed my property," Cook told FOX 5.

What we don't know:

The cause of the fire has not yet been released. No injuries have been reported at this time.