Binghamton Fire Reveals Drug Lab on Washington Street

Last week, the Binghamton City Fire Department responded to a call about a rooftop fire on Washington Street. The fire caused some apartments and local businesses to be evacuated, and the scene was closed off for an extended period of time. Strange Brew, RentBing and Key Branding Labs were among the places required to evacuate due to the fire.

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According to Binghamton Mayor Jared Kraham, the lengthy delay in opening the area back up was due to a suspected drug lab being found in one of the apartments in the building.

Mayor Kraham reported that the suspected drug lab was not the cause of the building fire which caused the evacuation. Instead, firefighters discovered the apartment drug lab while trying to locate and extinguish the fire. The fire was dealt with quickly, but the scene remained closed due to this discovery by the firefighting crews. The Binghamton Police Department and the New York State Police Contaminated Crime Scene Emergency Response Team are investigating the lab together.

Mayor Kraham did not release any further information about the investigation into the drug lab. Authorities have also not released any information about the cause of the fire on the fifth floor of the apartment building which caused firefighting crews to discover the suspected drug lab. Mayor Kraham did ask anyone with information regarding the open investigation into the suspected drug lab to contact the Binghamton Police Department Detective Division at (607) 772-7080.

The scene was later opened back up to the public late Friday evening.