Binghampton apartment fire 'intentionally set,' Memphis firefighters say

Officials say the Binghampton apartment fire Saturday that sent a Memphis firefighter to the hospital was intentionally set.

Memphis Fire Department brought the blaze in the vacant house at 455 Tillman St. under control Saturday afternoon and investigated.

"The origin and cause of the fire was determined to be intentionally set in the living room," says an incident report released by MFD spokesman Lt. Wayne A. Cooke.

A firefighter sustained a back and hip injury and was taken by ambulance to Baptist East Hospital and treated and released. A watch commander said the firefighter's condition was non-critical.

Officials say an investigation is underway and asked for information from the public about the fire. Calls can be made to Crime Stoppers at 528-CASH (2274) or the State Arson Hotline at 1-800-762-3017.

MFD said it dispatched 46 personnel aboard 20 fire, rescue and emergency medical vehicles in response to initial reports of  heavy smoke rising from the one-story wood-frame apartment house near Sam Cooper Boulevard.

The apartment turned out to be vacant. Total damage was estimated at $50,000 to the structure, says the incident report.