UPDATE 7 P.M. (4/5): The owners of McDonald Contracting say they will remain open after a fire destroyed their business' building.

They say they will do their best to get to the jobs that have already been scheduled, according to a post made on Facebook.

"We are grateful that no one got hurt, for the fire departments that worked putting fire out, and to friends, family, and employees that showed up and helped save what we could," the owners wrote.

For the time being, McDonald Contracting will only take cash or check until their get their computers back up.

UPDATE FROM 04/05/2025 AT 9:10 A.M.: According to the Elmira Fire Department Chief Andy Mallow, no one was inside the building at the time of the fire. Chief Mallow said the building is a total loss, and McDonald Contracting lost a significant amount of equipment in the fire.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Chief Mallow said more information will be released in the coming days.

ELMIRA, NY (WENY) -- A business on Elmira's south side went up in flames Friday evening.

Fire crews were called to the scene of a fire at McDonald Contracting on South Kinyon Street in Elmira just after 9 P.M. Within minutes, the business was engulfed in flames.

Firefighters from the city of Elmira, Southport, Elmira Heights, and West Elmira were among the crews responding to the scene. It's unknown at this time exactly how the fire started; Fire crews are still actively working to put out the flames as of 10 P.M.

The fire was so large vehicles were pulling over on nearby Clemens Center Parkway and neighboring streets so people could get a view of the flames, causing potentially dangerous traffic situations.

According to its website, McDonald Contracting provides excavating, landscaping, septic system repairs, wood waste recycling, and dumpster services.