01-05-2025
Elmira man charged with arson after fire at St. Joseph's Apartments, residents displaced
An Elmira man faces an arson charge after police investigated an early morning blaze Wednesday at an apartment building in the city.
Around 7 a.m., a fire alarm from St. Joseph's Apartments, located at 550 E. Church St., came into the Chemung County 911 Center, according to the Elmira Police Department.
Responding Elmira Fire Department personnel located and contained a working fire that originated in an occupied apartment on the fifth floor of the building.
Police officers and members of the Elmira Police Department Detective Bureau arrived on the scene and were informed by fire department personnel that an accelerant was detected and the origin of the fire was suspicious.
As a result of their investigation, police charged 76-year-old Martin Beebe, of Elmira, with second-degree arson, a class-B felony. Beebe remains in the custody of the Elmira Police Department pending arraignment in Elmira City Court.
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There were no injuries reported in the fire. Displaced tenants are being assisted by property management and the American Red Cross.
The investigation into the incident is continuing. Police are asking anyone with information to contact the Elmira Police Department at 607-737-5626, or leave a message on the anonymous tip line at 607-271-HALT.
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This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Elmira man faces arson charge after fire at St. Joseph's Apartments
