By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
A fire that began in the basement caused heavy damage Monday morning to a townhouse at 45 Cameron Court, in the Queenston Commons development off North Harrison Street, according to Robert Gregory, Princeton’s director of Emergency Services.
The two-alarm fire, which drew volunteer firefighters from Princeton and surrounding towns, was reported at 8:18 a.m., Mr. Gregory said. No one was injured in the fire, which was declared under control around 9:30 a.m.
Firefighters initially went inside the house to put out the fire, but they were forced out of the building when the first floor collapsed into the basement, Mr. Gregory said. At that point, firefighters poured water onto the fire through the basement windows.
Once the fire was knocked down, firefighters entered the house and went down the basement stairs to completely extinguish the fire, he said.
The condominium at 45 Cameron Court was declared uninhabitable, Mr. Gregory said. The two adjoining units suffered smoke damage, and one of the units also suffered damage to the walls when firefighters opened them up to look for possible hidden pockets of fire.
The occupants of the two adjoining units were allowed back into their homes Tuesday, after the utilities were turned back on, he said. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
In addition to the Princeton Fire Department, firefighters from Lawrence, Hopewell, Plainsboro, South Brunswick and Montgomery townships responded to the blaze.
