This public crematory will soon be operational in Bellingham

A public crematory is almost operational at Simple Cremation in Bellingham that the owner says will help make the service more efficient for locals who choose to cremate a deceased family member.

The city has multiple funeral and cremation businesses but cremation services are typically contracted out or done in partnership with other facilities within the county or state.

“All local Bellingham funeral homes have to transport decedents out of town and this adds expense, carbon footprint, inconvenience and sometimes emotional hardship,” said Simple Cremation owner and operator Michael Galaviz in a statement to The Bellingham Herald.

In addition to providing cremation in Bellingham, Simple Cremation’s crematory will also be set up with a sitting space for family members to attend a cremation. They will have the option to watch the process through a crematory viewing porthole or via live-streaming services.

The public element of the crematory means any family may self-transport their deceased family member to the crematory as long as they acquire the proper permits for cremation, according to Galaviz.

Those interested in obtaining a burial-transit permit must do so through the local registrar of vital statistics.

The crematory will also be available to families using other local funeral homes who would otherwise transport their deceased family member out of town.

Simple Cremation is expected to begin operating a public crematory by April in Bellingham. A viewing portal on the crematory allows family members to watch the cremation process.

The service costs $795 and will be available for use 24/7. The crematory is expected to be operational within the next two weeks.

Simple Cremation’s crematory was manufactured by Advanced Combustion Systems, a Bellingham-based company. The city of Bellingham and the Northwest Clean Air Agency issued operating permits for the crematory.

Another conditional use permit for a crematory was issued last year for County Cremation Services, another funeral and cremation business in Bellingham. Though, the business is not yet operating a crematory in-house.