Firefighters find corpses after Headingley crematorium fire

A massive fire broke out at Wojcik’s Funeral Chapel and Crematorium on Wilkes Avenue east of Hall Road sometime before 8:30 p.m. Friday night.

A massive fire at a crematorium lit up the sky above Headingley Friday night. Firefighters say there were no injuries in the fire, but Headingley fire chief Bob Hansen said crews discovered corpses while fighting the blaze.

The flames shot out of a building at Wojcik’s Funeral Chapel and Crematorium on Wilkes Avenue east of Hall Road. The fire started sometime before 8:30 p.m.

Thick smoke poured from the roof of the 371.6 sq. m building. The fire was fully involved when fire crews arrived on scene, Hansen said.

About 20 members from the Headingley and RM of MacDonald fire departments responded to the fire. The Office of the Fire Commission was still on the scene Saturday morning. Crews were on scene until 1:00 a.m., but came back to put out hot spots.

RCMP are looking into the cause of the fire. Damage estimates were not available, but the building is considered a write-off, said Hansen.