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Bodies Burned In Lewisville Crematorium Fire

LEWISVILLE (CBSDFW.COM) - At least five bodies being readied for cremation were burned after a furnace being used at a Lewisville crematorium overheated Wednesday night, causing fire to shoot through the building.

Heavy flames were showing when firefighters first arrived just after 10 p.m. at the Martin Oaks Cemetery and Crematorium on Kingston Drive at Old Orchard Lane in Lewisville.

The fire began when the crematorium's super-burners engaged, heating the unit to nearly 2000 degrees Fahrenheit.

"The heat started pushing out the doors of the unit, escaping out into the building," said Lewisville Fire Capt. Tim Tittle. "These things burn at a pretty high temperature."

Tittle does not know what caused the furnace to malfunction.  He said the department has responded to smaller fires at the crematorium over the years but nothing like this.

"It was pretty much a first for us as well," he said.

The crematorium did not return a phone message or email left by CBS 11 Thursday morning.

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