An Armour Road family has been left homeless after a fire that began in the attached garage spread to the house July 31, according to Michael Yeh, director of the Department of Emergency & Safety Services.
A resident of the house called the Princeton Police Department at 4:10 a.m. to report that the garage was on fire, officials said. The resident woke up and saw fire in the garage area and called police.
When police officers arrived, they found the garage was fully engulfed in flames and that the fire was spreading to the house, according to reports.
The Princeton Fire Department, which was dispatched at the same time as the Princeton Police Department, arrived at 4:18 a.m. The fire response was quickly upgraded to a first alarm and then to a second alarm because additional firefighters were needed, according to officials. Mutual aid was requested.
Firefighters from neighboring fire departments responded, and were led in firefighting efforts by Princeton Assistant Fire Chief Dan Tomalin.
The fire was extinguished, but the house suffered fire, smoke and water damage. It was declared uninhabitable, according to officials.
In addition to the Princeton Fire Department, the responding fire companies included the Lawrenceville Fire Company, the Rocky Hill Fire Department, Montgomery Volunteer Fire Co. No. 2 and the Plainsboro Fire Company.
Also, the Princeton Junction Volunteer Fire Company, West Windsor Fire and Emergency Services, East Windsor Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1 and Princeton Plasma Physics Lab firefighters responded.
The Princeton First Aid and Rescue and the Plainsboro Rescue Squad responded.
No injuries were reported. The residents are staying with friends, officials said.
The origin and cause of the fire remains under investigation by Princeton Fire Marshal Joseph Novak.
