Intruders Attracted to Fire-Damaged Court Street Building

More trespassing has been reported at an abandoned downtown Binghamton building that was damaged by a suspicious fire.

A blaze at 216 Court Street was reported late Friday afternoon. Firefighters at the fire department headquarters about a block east of the house spotted smoke coming from the structure.

The fire was quickly extinguished and damage was contained to a room on the first floor.

Firefighters searched the three-story building which was supposed to be vacant. A bystander said someone may have been trapped inside the house at the time of the fire.

No one was found during the search and no injuries were reported.

The city fire marshal on Tuesday said the report on the investigation into the cause of the blaze was not complete.

NYSEG had advised the fire department that utilities to the building had been disconnected.

An employee of a convenience store across the street from the fire-damaged house told WNBF News trespassers continued to try to illegally enter the building even after the blaze. He said there have been ongoing problems with squatters entering the structure.

EKAM Properties of Vestal acquired the house for $45,000 in 2023. The owner of the nearby store this year sought permission to tear it down to provide more parking for the business.

The Binghamton Commission on Architecture and Urban Design in June refused to approve the demolition request.

The owner of the store had told the commission the house was "in bad shape" and was beyond repair.

WNBF NEWS VIDEO: Binghamton firefighters at the scene of the blaze on August 1, 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.