Fire Destroys Riverside Drive Home in Princeton (Updated)

Firefighters battled a fire that destroyed a home and five vehicles in the Riverside neighborhood in Princeton during the wee hours of Wednesday.

At about 1:58 a.m., firefighters from Princeton and several surrounding towns responded to a two-alarm fire at 369 Riverside Drive East.

The homeowner was awakened by one of her dogs and alerted to the fire. A total of four people and two dogs were in the home at the time of the fire and all were able to leave safely.

When patrols arrived, they found the split level wooden-frame home was engulfed in flames.  There were about 75 fire fighters from a dozen fire companies at the scene.  The Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad and the Plainsboro Rescue Squad also responded.

 

Officials said that although the investigation is in the early stages, it appears as though the fire started in the area of the garage.  A vehicle and motorcycle, both parked in the garage, were destroyed, along with three additional vehicles parked outside the garage.

There was devastating fire damage to the right side of the home, officials said.  The left side of the home had extensive fire, smoke and water damage.  The fire fighters on scene were able to extinguish the flames and there were no injuries as a result of the fire.

The fire is being investigated by the Princeton Fire Marshal’s Office.  At this point the cause of the fire is unknown.

Delayed – Mercer – Princeton – 369 Riverside Dr – 2nd Alarm – Fully involved dwelling and vehicles on fire. pic.twitter.com/BwGYOyh4Fd

— CentralJerseyFire (@CJFireBuffs) July 27, 2016

Planet Princeton will update this story when we have more information and comment from fire officials, who were still at the scene working as of 5 a.m.