Employees and firefighters cleared all bodies as flames gutted Cook Brothers Funeral Directors and Cremations on NW Broad Street.
FAIRBURN, Ga. — A Sunday afternoon fire heavily damaged a funeral home and crematory in downtown Fairburn, where workers and a funeral director rushed into the smoke to remove remains before flames overtook the building, authorities and staff said.
The blaze at Cook Brothers Funeral Directors and Cremations brought a multi-agency response, closures around NW Broad Street, and thick smoke that lingered for hours. Officials said the business had multiple sets of remains on site and that employees coordinated with firefighters to move them to a secure location. No injuries were reported. The cause remained under investigation late Sunday. Owner Tamarkus Cook said his team acted on instinct to protect families’ loved ones and pledged to rebuild the family-owned business.
Fire crews were called just after 1:25 p.m. to the 200 block of NW Broad Street, where heavy smoke and visible flames poured from the roof of the funeral home. The City of South Fulton sent aid as Fairburn firefighters attacked the blaze from the exterior. Streets around the building, including portions of Highway 29, were shut while crews positioned ladder trucks and supply lines. In interviews at the scene, owner Tamarkus Cook said staff “rushed into a burning building” to retrieve the remains in their care. Cook said he also entered the building several times to help. “Our first thought was the families,” he said.
Officials said every set of remains inside was removed and transferred to a secure secondary location as fire conditions worsened. Witnesses described loud popping sounds and waves of heat as crews fought the fire through the afternoon. A man who had recently used the cremation services said staff told him the remains were safe and accounted for. Fire officials did not immediately release a damage estimate. They said there were no reported civilian or firefighter injuries and that investigators would review building systems and interview employees to determine what sparked the blaze. The number of remains on site at the time was not immediately finalized.
Cook Brothers occupies a brick building on NW Broad Street, a short walk from other small businesses and city offices in Fairburn’s historic core. The funeral home provides both traditional services and cremation, drawing families from across South Fulton and neighboring communities. The Sunday fire sent smoke across the downtown corridor, prompting some businesses to close early and residents to gather behind police tape. Nearby agencies have assisted Fairburn in past structure fires, and mutual-aid agreements typically bring additional engines, tankers and command staff when flames threaten multiple exposures or require sustained operations.
Fairburn officials said the cause remains undetermined and that investigators will examine electrical systems, mechanical equipment and work areas associated with cremation. They will also review dispatch logs, radio traffic and body camera video where available. The city said a full report could take days while crews complete overhaul and ensure the structure is safe to enter. In the meantime, the funeral home’s operations are expected to shift to partner facilities while restoration and rebuilding plans are assessed. Any necessary permits and inspections would be handled through the city and state boards that regulate funeral establishments.
By nightfall, only charred framing and smoke-stained walls were visible through the front entrance. Neighbors thanked firefighters as crews rotated off the line and packed hose. “They moved fast, and they did it safely,” said Marcus Williams, who lives nearby. Another onlooker, Alicia Grant, said she watched workers haul bags and containers from side doors before flames punched through the roof. “You could tell they were thinking about those families,” she said. Cook, standing near the street with soot on his jacket, said the business would contact each affected family individually as logistics were finalized.
As of late Sunday, investigators had not announced a cause, and crews continued to monitor hot spots inside the structure. Officials said an update on the probe and the status of the building is expected early this week.
Author note: Last updated January 19, 2026.