The Lenox House on the Princeton Theological Seminary campus, at the corner of Stockton Street and Library Place, was damaged by an early morning fire that broke out shortly after 5 a.m. Aug. 3, said Michael Yeh, the director of Princeton’s Department of Emergency & Safety Services.
The Princeton Theological Seminary’s security staff notified the Princeton Police Department at 5:11 a.m. to report the fire. The Princeton Fire Department and the Princeton First Aid & Rescue Squad were dispatched, along with police.
Flames had already broken through the slate roof of the three-story brick building when the Princeton Fire Department arrived. The fire was elevated to a two-alarm fire, and mutual aid was requested from neighboring fire departments, officials said.
Firefighters battled the blaze for nearly two hours, bringing it under control at 7:11 a.m., under the command of Princeton Fire Chief Thomas “T.R.” Johnson.
There were no injuries to civilians or firefighters, officials said.
The Lenox House is the home of the seminary’s Biblical Studies program. There are faculty offices and seminar rooms in the building. The red brick building, which features decorative patterned brickwork, is a Princeton landmark.
The Princeton Fire Department was assisted by firefighters from the Lawrenceville Fire Company, the Rocky Hill Fire Department, Montgomery Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1 and Montgomery Volunteer Fire Co. No. 2.
Also, the Plainsboro Fire Company, the Princeton Junction Volunteer Fire Company, the Hopewell Fire Department, the Kingston Volunteer Fire Company, the Monmouth Junction Volunteer Fire Department, and the Princeton Plasma Physics Fire Department also responded.
The investigation into the cause of the fire is being led by Director of Emergency Services Michael Yeh, Fire Marshal Joseph Novak, Princeton Police Department Detective Sgt. Benjamin Gering and the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.