ID of Body Found in Burning Binghamton House Still Unknown

The investigation continues into the death of a man whose body was discovered inside a burning home in Binghamton.

Firefighters discovered the body as they worked to extinguish a blaze in a house at 2 Pleasant Street on the city's North Side. The January 15 fire was reported around 8:15 a.m.

The man's body was found in a first-floor bedroom near the front of the house.

Police and fire investigators have not revealed a likely cause of the fire.

Detective Captain Cory Minor told WNBF News Friday afternoon that there is no indication of any criminal activity in connection with the fire. Police are awaiting the results of further testing to make a positive identification of the man who died.

Property records indicate the owners of the fire-damaged house live in Florida. The place had been boarded-up before the blaze and no one was authorized to be inside.

The heavily-damaged house was not secured following the fire. People can enter the building through doors and windows. The property is littered with burned furniture and other household items.

Mayor Jared Kraham said the city faces challenges dealing with properties following fires. He said typically, if a house is deemed to be 50 percent or more damaged, it must be demolished.

Speaking on WNBF Radio's Binghamton Now program, Kraham said there often is no insurance policy on fire-damaged buildings that would cover the cost of tearing them down.

The mayor said the city has encountered a wide range of situations in dealing with the owners of structures that have been damaged by fire.

Kraham said Johnson City's law pertaining to fire-damaged properties is slightly different than Binghamton's. He said the village has a little more flexibility than the city in dealing with the issue. He said Binghamton may consider making some changes in its law to help address the problem.

VIDEO: WNBF News returned to Binghamton's North Side to inspect the site of the January 15 fire.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.