Binghamton Waiting for State Report on Deadly Main Street Fire

Authorities have yet to release details about the Binghamton fire that resulted in the death of firefighter John Gaudet.

A City Hall statement released the morning after the blaze said the 40-year-old Gaudet "died after a wall collapsed" while the fire department was fighting the Main Street blaze.

The February 12 fire started in what was believed to be a vacant commercial building at 1 Main Street, just west of the Chenango River.

Mayor Jared Kraham on Friday said city fire department officials quickly contacted state investigators for assistance in determining the cause of the blaze.

Kraham told WNBF News that the state fire investigators are continuing to work with the Binghamton police department. He said he's not going to discuss specific issues while the state investigation is in progress.

The mayor said "when we have concrete facts, certainly we'll share with the public as soon as we get them."

Kraham would not say whether there was an indication of anything criminal in nature regarding the fire. He said he doesn't want to speculate about what happened, adding "I really want to make sure that they get this right" so they can "investigate everything that they need to do."

The mayor said he believes that the buildings that were destroyed by the blaze had been secured before the fire erupted.

Kraham said there are plans to install better barriers around the site where the buildings had stood at 1 and 3 Main Street before the March 1 St. Patrick's Parade. He said more permanent measures also will need to be taken at the site next to the river.

There now is a significant drop-off from the Main Street sidewalk to the riverbank area where the buildings once stood.

LISTEN: Binghamton Mayor Jared Kraham discussed the Main Street fire on WNBF Radio on February 21, 2025.

WNBF NEWS VIDEO: A view of 1 Main Street, just west of the Chenango River, on February 21, 2025.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com or call (607) 545-2250. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.