Binghamton Apartment House Torn Down After “Horrific” Fire

Demolition crews moved into a Binghamton neighborhood four days after a fast-moving blaze tore through a blighted apartment building.

One person sustained burns in Sunday morning's fire at 78 Liberty Street on the city's North Side.

Mayor Richard David said the structure was in very bad condition even before the blaze. He said the structure was "probably one of - if not the worst building - in the city of Binghamton."

Speaking on WNBF Radio's Binghamton Now program, David said the city had made an effort to buy the property with the intention of demolishing the building.

The mayor described the weekend blaze as a "horrific fire" and see said the outcome could have been "a lot worse."

City officials determined the building was more than 75 percent damaged. David said that meant what was left of the structure would have to be torn down right away

Some of the people who lived in the apartment house stood on Liberty Street Thursday afternoon, watching as workers from LCP Group of Vestal demolished what had been their home.

Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com

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