A Honolulu crematorium caught fire Wednesday afternoon after employees tried cremating a 500 pound body.
It is the first time something like this has happened in 20 years of operation.
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Officials said that workers took all the right steps — but because this particular situation involved a 500 pound body, things took an unexpected turn.
“The body was so obese that the actual body fat came off and went straight up the sack and hit the roof material, the rubber roof we have up there and that’s what made it go up like it did…It was no negligence involved in it. My guys, we did all we could. Once it started, the grease hit the roof and started the fire, the only thing we could do is dial 911 and get the fire department here,” Hendrix said. h/t hawaiinewsnow
There were 3 bodies on site at the cremation site at the time of the fire, but the manager says none were damaged in the process. As for the 500 pound body, the company was able to finish preparing it later Wednesday.
