Firefighters battle blaze at vacant former American Legion building in Ogdensburg

Firefighters from area departments battled a fire Tuesday evening at the former American Legion Post 69 building at 328 Franklin St. in Ogdensburg. The building, at the corner of Greene and Franklin streets, was described as vacant.

The fire was reported Tuesday afternoon, and firefighters worked to put it out. Flames were visible in second-story windows, and firefighters sprayed water onto the roof.

American Legion Hanbidge Post 69 traces its roots to 1919. The post later closed after membership declined and sold the Franklin Street building after upkeep became unaffordable. The building had been out of the Legion's hands since about 2012.

The blaze follows other fires involving vacant or formerly vacant commercial properties in Ogdensburg. A woman believed to be squatting was rescued from a Riverside Avenue building fire in April 2025, which police called suspicious. A November 2025 fire destroyed a business center on Ford Street.

Police have previously said they received complaints about people entering vacant buildings. City officials and emergency agencies are expected to provide additional information about the fire, including whether anyone was inside, whether anyone was injured, the cause and the building's condition.

Updates may come from the City of Ogdensburg, the Ogdensburg Fire Department and Ogdensburg police. The Ogdensburg Fire Department lists Chief Kenneth Stull at 315-393-2321 for questions about the response.