Fire Damages Binghamton Apartment House
Fire investigators are looking into the cause of a fire at an apartment house on Binghamton's east side that sent residents into the snow, wind and cold early in the morning hours of December 1.
The fire at 17 William Street was reported at 5:10 a.m. and Broome County Emergency Services communications officials say everyone was able to get out of the building safely.
There was no information available concerning the extent of damage to the three-story structure, where the fire started or who reported the blaze to authorities.
Firefighters had the fire out in less than 40 minutes and New York State Electric and Gas was called in to have crews cut the power and gas service to the building.
The multi-family dwelling is located between Ely Street and Griswold Street, a few blocks from the landmark Cortese Restaurant and a plaza containing a Weis Supermarket.
Broome County dispatchers had no information available concerning how many people were living in the building. Those displaced tenants will likely be getting assistance from the Southern Tier Chapter of the American Red Cross.
At the time of the call, the temperatures had been hovering in the mid to upper 20s but a west wind recorded at around 23 miles per hour steady and gusting as much as 35 miles per hour made it fell more like about 13 degrees.
Firefighters were able to keep the fire under control in spite of the winds and the wood-frame construction of the apartment house.
There have been no reports of injuries in spite of the frigid conditions.