Evacuated residents whose Merritt Drive residences are connected to the source of fire in the basement were allowed to return home within an hour of a reported basement fire Tuesday night.
The call came in at about 8:42 p.m. Firefighters found a heavy smoke and a small working fire in the corner, police said. All four occupants were evacuated, as were eight other residences. No one was injured.
The fire was kept to the basement, but the unit was ultimately deemed uninhabitable by township construction officials.
Police and the township Fire Safety Bureau are investigating.
All four township fire companies responded, as did Hillsborough and Somerville rescue squads.

