By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
Plainsboro Township fire officials are leaning toward careless smoking as the cause of a Sunday afternoon fire that damaged several units at the Deer Creek rental apartment complex, off Plainsboro Road and Deer Creek Drive.
Investigators have traced the origin of the fire to the second-floor deck outside Unit 202, said Plainsboro Township Fire Official John Petrino. The cause of the two-alarm fire, which drew firefighters from several fire departments, is still under investigation.
The two second-floor apartments — including the one where the fire apparently began — suffered fire damage. The two units underneath them received water damage. Across the breezeway, four apartments suffered smoke damage, Mr. Petrino said.
The fire was reported at 4:56 p.m. Sunday. When the first firefighters arrived, they discovered heavy fire coming from the second floor of the building. Flames eventually broke through the roof.
Two firefighters suffered minor injuries. One firefighter had a leg injury and a second firefighter had some symptoms related to a heat injury.
The Plainsboro Fire Department responded, and called in mutual aid from neighboring fire departments that included the Princeton Fire Department, the Princeton Plasma Physics Lab, the Lawrence Road Fire Co., and the Kingston Fire Department.
Volunteer firefighters also were called in from Hightstown Engine Co. No. 1, Applegarth Volunteer Engine Co. No. 1, Cranbury Volunteer Fire Co., Kendall Park Volunteer Fire Co., Princeton Junction Volunteer Fire Co., and fire companies from West Windsor and East Windsor townships.
The Plainsboro Township Police Department, the Plainsboro Rescue Squad and the Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad also responded.
