Fairburn Funeral Home Destroyed by Fire

Owner says malfunctioning AC unit likely caused blaze that devastated family business.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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More than a month after a fire destroyed Cook Brothers Funeral Directors and Cremation in Fairburn, Georgia, the owner Tamarkus Cook has revealed the likely cause - a malfunctioning air conditioning unit on the roof. The fire spread quickly, forcing Tamarkus' cousin Blake to attempt to enter the burning building to save the remains of 5 people and the cremated remains of 11 others, but he was unable to due to the intense smoke and flames. While the remains have since been returned to their families, the fire has been a devastating loss for the family-owned business that had been in operation for years.

Why it matters

The fire at the Cook Brothers Funeral Home highlights the risks and challenges that small, family-owned businesses can face, especially those in the sensitive funeral services industry. The loss of the building and the potential damage to the remains of those in their care is a tragic event for the community.

The details

According to Tamarkus Cook, the owner of Cook Brothers Funeral Directors and Cremation, investigators believe the fire was caused by a malfunctioning air conditioning unit on the roof of the building. When the fire started, Tamarkus' cousin Blake was the first on the scene and tried to enter the burning building to save the remains of 5 people and the cremated remains of 11 others, but was unable to due to the intense smoke and flames. Blake suffered injuries from smoke inhalation and is still recovering. The remains that were inside have since been returned to their families, and the funeral home is continuing to provide services using other locations as they determine their next steps for the destroyed building.

  • The fire occurred on Sunday, January 18, 2026.
  • More than a month has passed since the fire destroyed the funeral home.

The players

Tamarkus Cook

The owner of Cook Brothers Funeral Directors and Cremation, the funeral home that was destroyed by the fire.

Blake Cook

Tamarkus' cousin, who was the first on the scene and tried to enter the burning building to save the remains inside, but was injured in the process.

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What they’re saying

“This has been devastating to us. We put our hard work into this building. In fact, my grandmother placed floors in the embalming room on her knees. We've got memories here.”

— Tamarkus Cook, Owner (atlantanewsfirst.com)

“The building was on fire. There was fire above us, there was smoke everywhere. We could not see.”

— Tamarkus Cook, Owner (atlantanewsfirst.com)

What’s next

Tamarkus Cook said they are still having services using other locations, and on Wednesday they will decide their next steps at the location that burned.

The takeaway

The devastating fire at the Cook Brothers Funeral Home serves as a sobering reminder of the risks and challenges that small, family-owned businesses can face, especially those in sensitive industries like funeral services. The loss of the building and potential damage to the remains in their care is a tragic event for the community, but the resilience and determination of the owners to continue providing services shows the strength of this family-run business.