Two Alarm Fire Displaces Occupants of Endicott Apartment Home
Multiple fire crews battled a two-alarm fire at a home in Endicott on Tuesday afternoon.
The call came in around 12:15 p.m. for a building fire at 105 Harrison Avenue. Fire Crews from Vestal, Endwell, Endicott, West Corners, Union-Center, the City of Binghamton and Johnson City helped put out the blaze. New York Stat Police, Union Volunteer Emergency Services and Broome County Emergency Services also assisted.
Endicott Fire Chief Joseph Griswold stated the fire began on the back porch and spread to the rest of the building, which houses three apartments. The road was blocked off from Broad Street to Monroe Street as several agencies subdued the fire.
"While en route we had heavy smoke showing. We got here, and we had heavy fire in the rear of the building. We had fire on all three floors plus in the attic. Between smoke and water damage, and the fact that there's no utilities now, they won't be living here." stated Griswold.
He added that the Red Cross was on its way to assist the occupants of the house.
One of the inhabitants, Tammi Wells, who had lived in the top floor apartment for the last seven years, said she was woken up by her granddaughter and smelled burning wires.
"She said the house is on fire. And I didn't really understand what she was saying at first. And then she said, Come on, Grandma, we have to get out." explained Wells. "So we got out and then we went downstairs and then the whole back porch was on fire and it was fully engulfed. It wasn't like it just started, you know, So I don't know how long it was burning, but I went through the house."
All residents were evacuated, and no injuries were reported.
In addition, a mother raccoon was seen still on the roof, having safely avoided the blaze at the back of the home. A few of its babies were rescued by EMS personnel on scene and were being tended to.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the Broome County Bureau of Fire Investigation.