Fire Damages Binghamton Apartment House After Drug Raid

About a dozen people are homeless following a blaze in a downtown Binghamton apartment building broke out less than 48 hours after a drug raid.

The fire at 129 Susquehanna Street was reported around 5:30 a.m. Thursday.

Binghamton Fire Captain Timothy O'Neill said the blaze in the three-story brick structure was brought under control after about 45 minutes.

O'Neill said the blaze caused moderate damage to the building, which has about 12 apartments. The fire involved two apartments in the upper portion of the structure.

No injuries were reported. Fire investigators will be working with police detectives to establish a cause. O'Neill said it may take about two weeks to complete the investigation.

Two SWAT teams assisted a special investigations units in executing search warrants for buildings at 127 and 129 Susquehanna Street around 6:30 a.m. Tuesday. Five people were arrested in the drug raids.

In December 2016, Mayor Richard David held a news conference in front of 129 Susquehanna Street to announce the building had been condemned because of dangerous conditions.

Property records show the two Susquehanna Street buildings were sold last December. The new owner, Pinchos Yurowitz of New Jersey, could not be reached to comment about the fire or the drug raid.

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

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