UPDATE:

Sharp Funeral Home owner gives thanks for help after 'destructive' fire

SWARTZ CREEK, MI -- Firefighters pulled 11 bodies that were awaiting memorial services from a burning funeral home on Wednesday.

Crews responded to Sharp Funeral Home, 8138 Miller Road, at about 10:15 p.m. Wednesday, May 16, for a commercial structure and encountered heavy smoke and flames.

Roger Sharp II, company president, confirmed that 11 bodies awaiting services were safely recovered.

"We thank God that we were able to do that," he said. "Our staff and the fire department were able to remove them from our care center with no damage whatsoever. I'd like to commend the fire department for their help in that effort."

There were no injuries reported.

There were no signs of arson and the cause of the fire remains under investigation, said Michigan State Police Spokesman Lt. Dave Kaiser.

Sharp has owned the funeral home since 1969, but the facility was previously known as the Bendle Funeral Home, he said. Parts of the building date back to the 1920s.

Area churches have reached out to offer their facilities to host services that were pending at the location, Sharp said.

Sharp also operates funeral homes in Fenton, Linden and Grand Blanc Township.

"The community has just rallied around us -- it's amazing," Sharp said. "It's definitely been strange and uncomfortable to be on the other side of the coin."

There were firefighters from 10 different departments that worked for more than six hours on the blaze.

"We want to commend those guys for their assistance in pulling the deceased from the building," Sharp said. "We plan on beginning the process of rebuilding as soon as possible."