A Binghamton man has been charged with starting Saturday night's fire that destroyed a large apartment building on Main Street.
Police say 36 year-old Daniel Kauchis was cooking meth in his third floor apartment when there was a small chemical explosion. It happened at about 11:45 pm at 259 to 261 Main Street in Binghamton. Kauchis is facing charges of reckless endangerment and arson. More than 40 people lost their homes because of the fire.
Fire Captain Tim Dahulich says originally there was concern that someone might have died in the fire. "All the tenants as of right now are accounted for. That is why we were here this morning. We had two apartments of occupants that were unaccounted for. We were prepared to do some searching through the rubble of those two apartments but all of the people in those apartments have been positively accounted for."
The only person injured is the suspect. He has minor burns to his legs, hands and face. The Family and Children's Society, which is next door, does have water damage. It will be closed until further notice.
