Seven Homeless After Binghamton West Side Fire

Seven people were left homeless following an apartment house fire in Binghamton.

Assistant fire chief Mark Whalen said the blaze in the two-story woodframe building at 72 Thorp Street was reported a few minutes after noon Wednesday (March 2).

Firefighters found a "small amount of flames" when they arrived at the scene.

People who were inside the single-room occupancy building escaped without injury.

Whalen said the fire was brought under control after several minutes.

The Red Cross was called to provide assistance to the people forced from the building.

The fire caused some damage to a porch area and to a section of the cellar. It burned between two of the rafter bays.

A NYSEG crew cut off the electricity and natural gas service to the building.

Whalen said the fire may have been burning for up to 30 minutes before it was discovered.

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