Cremated ashes removed from funeral parlour

Firefighters had the grim task of removing cremated ashes from a funeral parlour as the flames threatened to engulf the premises next to a property in Stony Stratford High Street which was destroyed by fire.
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The ashes being were held by JS Cowley & Son funeral directors and awaiting collection by relatives.

The remains were salvaged by firefighters with as much dignity as possible.

A Bucks fire and Rescue spokesman said: “As well as fighting the fire and maintaining a safe environment for everyone at the scene, firefighters worked to salvage as much as possible from the affected buildings, including cremated ashes from the premises of a funeral director.”

The ashes are now being cared for by another funeral director.

The spokesman has since added: “Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service would like to correct a statement about a particularly sensitive salvage operation which it issued in response to one of the many enquiries it received in the aftermath of the fire in Stony Stratford High Street on May 1, and to apologise for the original error.

“Firefighters removed urns containing cremated ashes from the premises of a funeral director, and a cabinet containing important information, but the salvage operation did not as previously stated extend to the chapel of rest as this was situated well away from the fire and was not affected by it.”