Downtown Binghamton was quickly filled with smoke. Wind, fortunately, blew it away from where I work, but our high school and some other businesses had to be evacuated. The smoke was visible for miles.
Ellis Brothers has been in business since 1900. The building doesn't look in bad shape in this photo, taken a day after the fire, but, in fact, the building was seriously damaged. There's a possibility that the building may have to be demolished.
This is the block the building is on, with other turn of the century (the 20th century, that is) historic buildings on both sides. Downtown Binghamton has so much promise and so much interesting architecture.
Downtown Binghamton has seen its share of fires, some of them tragic. Fortunately, no one was injured in this fire. Physically, anyway
I have no doubt that the local business community will embrace the Ellis family, because that is what people in small cities throughout our country do - rally at times of tragedy. Of course, enough of us gathered near the building yesterday to check it out, because that is also human nature.
I hope I don't have to blog about another fire for a long, long time.
It sounds like the Ellis Family is going to pick up and keep going. That's great. Fire is such a devastating thing. My niece and her family lost their entire house to fire last summer, in the middle of the night. It was their dog that alerted them and woke them up. Thankfully no one was hurt, but they lost everything. Thanks for sharing. Stay safe!
ReplyDeleteFires can be so devastating. I hope the community can come together and help the businesses involved get back on their feet.
ReplyDeleteI could go to flooding and earthquake disaster, but the fire. It can damage everything.
ReplyDeleteOh gosh, that's awful. Fire spreads so quickly and causes destruction in a matter of seconds! I hope that the area can get the help that they need...
ReplyDelete