The smoke sent people out of their apartment Saturday morning.
PRINCETON - Princeton residents fled out into the snow Saturday after smoke filled a business and a couple of apartments in downtown Princeton, according to the fire department.
Times file photo Firefighters were called to 17 Witherspoon Street around 11 a.m. Saturday for a report of an electric fire that caused smoke at a hair salon, offices and apartments at and near the address.
When they got there they found smoke filling the second and first floors, Director of Emergency Services Bob Gregory said. All of the occupants were out of the building by the time firefighters arrived.
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Firefighters went into the building but couldn't find the source of the smoke on the second or first floors. When they investigated the attic, they found an HVAC heating unit.
The unit's motor had seized up and caught on fire, filling the building with smoke and making it seem like a much larger fire, Gregory said.
The fire department ventilated the building and restored heat in the basement before allowing people to come back inside.
Gregory said there was no damage to the building from the smoke.
Anna Merriman may be reached at amerriman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @anna_merriman Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.