By Matthew Hersh

Emergency crews from Princeton and surrounding jurisdictions descended on downtown Princeton last week, after a commercial fire alarm was set off by smoke from a fourth-floor apartment at 25 Spring Street.

Princeton Police Chief Matthew Solovay said police had responded to a 911 call at 10:16 p.m. on Tuesday, January 6, reporting smoke coming from an apartment on the fourth floor of the mixed-use complex. Responding units advised residents to evacuate the building.

According to police, emergency responders, led by the Princeton Fire Department, made entry into the building and located an active fire, which was subsequently extinguished. Additional responders included Princeton Plasma Engine 66, West Windsor Fire Department, Plainsboro Fire Department, and Hamilton Fire Department. The Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad and West Windsor EMS also responded to site. No injuries were reported.

After the fire was extinguished, the Princeton Fire Marshal’s Office began an investigation. The Princeton Department of Emergency Management, Princeton Human Services, Princeton Health Department, the Princeton Building Department, and utility provider, PSE&G, were also notified as part of standard safety protocols, Solovay said.

Following a full inspection, the fourth floor of the apartment and several adjacent apartments were deemed temporarily uninhabitable due to water damage. All other apartments in the building were found to be safe, and residents were permitted to return.

The five-story building at 25 Spring Street is at the corner of Spring and Tulane streets, and includes 52 residential apartments. The first floor is home to D’Angelo’s Gourmet Market and the building is across the street from the Spring Street Garage at 28 Spring Street, which has nearly 500 parking spots.

Part of Princeton’s “Phase II” of downtown development, 25 Spring Street opened in 2010 on the former surface parking lot that occupied the space. Once abstractly known as “Building C” in development plans, 25 Spring is now a familiar downtown landmark.

The incident remains under investigation by the Princeton Fire Marshal’s Office.