At 6:14 p.m. on Monday, March 14, Broome County Communications dispatched the City of Binghamton Fire Department to alarm number 2011-1724.
Dispatch relayed a report of a house fire on Bingham Street in the area of Broad Avenue. Dispatched companies were Engine 21-4, Quint 21-3, Engine 21-1, Squad 21, and Tower 21 along with Car 21, the Fire Ambulance, and Superior Ambulance. While Car 21 was still enroute dispatch advised that they had taken multiple calls from vehicles on Broad Ave and Interstate 81 reporting flames showing. At this time Car 21 asked dispatch to have Quint 21-2 relocate to headquarters.
As Engine 4 arrived on scene and stretched an attack line, Car 21 gave a report of a working fire with flames showing from first floor windows on side D of a two-story wood frame residence at #32 Bingham Street. The crew from Engine 4 made quick entry to the structure and knocked down the fire on the first floor a short distance inside the front door. Other crews arrived shortly after Engine 4 and joined them inside the house to conduct a search and check for extension.
Although the main body of fire on the first floor was knocked down very quickly, crews continued to work at completely extinguishing the fire for some time. After venting from the first floor windows the fire spread up the outside of the house and gained access to the attic. Crews performed vertical ventilation of the roof as moderate smoke continued to roll from attic vents and vent holes. Other crews also worked to gain access to the attic area of the house in order to fully extinguish the fire. Car 21 finally called the fire under control at 7:15 p.m.
Car 21 asked dispatch to call in the fire investigation staff and Investigator 21-5 responded. The fire is believed to have started in the first floor living room but is still under investigation. No one was home at the time of the fire but residents returned home shortly after the fire began. No one was injured in the fire and crews were also able to retrieve two live dogs from the residence. All companies had returned to service by 9 p.m.
