Meridian pet crematorium goes up in flames early Monday

The cause of the blaze, which was reported just after midnight, had not been determined by Monday evening, Meridian Fire Department Capt. Joe Bongiorno said.

The Memorial Pet Care cremation equipment was in the cooling-down portion of the cremation process when the fire broke out, fire investigator Bongiorno told the Statesman. No one was in the building at the time, he said, but a passerby noticed the smoke and called 911.

When firefighters arrived at 654 E. King St., flames were coming through the roof, he said. It was not safe to enter the building, so crews attacked the blaze from the outside, including use of an aerial platform, he said. It took about two hours to control the fire, he said.

"The building was a complete loss," Bongiorno said. "I have an area of origin, but not a cause yet."

This story was originally published February 15, 2016 at 7:28 PM with the headline "Meridian pet crematorium goes up in flames early Monday."