Officials have determined that a fire in downtown Binghamton on Wednesday that killed one man was caused by smoking. A 68-year-old man was severely burned and later died from his injuries following the fire at the North Shore Towers complex. The fire began in the man’s fifth floor apartment, and fire officials now say that it began when the man was using a portable oxygen system while smoking in his recliner. Residents of the building had to evacuate while fire crews were on the scene. The cause has officially been ruled accidental due to the smoking.
