Johnson City Building Fire “Suspicious”

Police and fire investigators are working to determine the cause of a two-alarm blaze that damaged a vacant Johnson City apartment building.

Authorities say the fire in the three-story brick structure at the corner of Baldwin Street and Corliss Avenue was reported around 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

Fire chief Rob Jacyna said village firefighters were assisted by four other departments. There were no reported injuries.

Fire marshal Paul Hlebica said the blaze was being treated as suspicious because no one was supposed to be living in the building and utilities had been shut off.

Investigators have determined the fire started in the kitchen area of a first-floor apartment.

Intruders had gained access by setting up a plank to walk from the roof of a neighboring building on Corliss Avenue to a second-floor apartment in the building where the fire occurred.

The fire scene is a few yards southeast of UHS Wilson Medical Center.