Fire Damages House in Troubled Binghamton Neighborhood

Binghamton fire investigators are working to determine the cause of a blaze that damaged a house on the city's North Side.

The fire broke out at a two-family house on Doubleday Street west of Emmett Street. It was reported around 6:45 p.m. Wednesday.

When police officers arrived at the scene, they reported an active fire on the back side of the house.

Fire caused moderate damage to a house on Doubleday Street near Emmett Street on October 21, 2026. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

Firefighters were advised that people may have been trapped inside the house. They searched the first and second floors of the building and found no occupants.

NYSEG crews were called to the scene to shut off utilities to the house. A Superior ambulance stood by but there apparently were no injuries.

Firefighters battled a suspicious fire on Doubleday Street on October 21, 2026. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

The fire was knocked down after a few minutes. Most of the damage was confined to the rear portion of the building.

People in the neighborhood said they believed people often entered what was supposed to be a vacant house to use drugs.

Residents of the one-block-long Doubleday Street have been dealing with an assortment of problems over the past few years.

A Binghamton firefighter washed away blood after a man was stabbed on Doubleday Street on July 23, 2026. (File Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

A man was critically injured when he was repeatedly stabbed on Doubleday Street in July. A 23-year-old man was charged with attempted murder after that attack.

Multiple homes and a car were struck by gunfire on Easter weekend last April. A 16-year-old boy was charged with four counts of attempted murder in that case.

WNBF NEWS VIDEO: Police searched the area near Doubleday and Emmett streets after a daytime shooting incident on April 4, 2026.

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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.