Campus Alert Archive
PTS

A Pre-Dawn Two-Alarm Blaze Badly Damages the Historic Lenox House at Princeton Theological Seminary

NJfireadvisorymedium confidence

At approximately 5:11 AM EDT on Tuesday, August 3, 2021, Princeton Theological Seminary security staff notified Princeton Police of a fire at Lenox House, a historic building at 31 Library Place housing Biblical Studies faculty offices and seminar rooms. The fire reached two alarms and burned for nearly two hours before being brought under control at approximately 7:11 AM EDT. No one was injured.

Alerts
2
Response
—
Killed
—
Injured
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Institution
Princeton Theological Seminary
Private Masters · NJ
PTS Emergency Alert System
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

2 messages in sequence

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTEmail
Approximate reconstruction199 chars
PTS Alert: A fire has been reported at Lenox House, 31 Library Place. Princeton Police and Fire have been called. Please avoid the building and the surrounding area. Emergency personnel are on scene.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Timestamp 5:11 AM EDT (UTC-4) is sourced directly from reporting that 'Princeton Theological Seminary Security called the Princeton Police Department to report a fire at 31 Library Place' at that time.
Lenox House is a historic building on the seminary campus at the corner of Stockton Street and Library Place in Princeton, New Jersey; it primarily houses Biblical Studies faculty offices and seminar rooms.
ALL CLEAREmail+2 h
Approximate reconstruction260 chars
PTS All Clear: The fire at Lenox House has been brought under control at approximately 7:11 AM. No injuries have been reported. All students, faculty, and staff are safe. The building is being assessed for damage. Please continue to avoid the Lenox House area.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Seminary President M. Craig Barnes publicly confirmed that all students, faculty, and staff were safe after the blaze was controlled.
Despite the 'all clear' designation, ongoing damage assessment and investigation meant the building itself remained inaccessible; the all-clear was specifically for campus community safety.
Context

Background

Princeton Theological Seminary, founded in 1812 and affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA), is one of the oldest and most prestigious theological seminaries in the United States. Its historic campus is located in Princeton, New Jersey. In the early morning hours of August 3, 2021, a fire broke out in Lenox House, a historic three-story campus building at 31 Library Place at the corner of Stockton Street. Seminary security notified Princeton Police at 5:11 AM EDT. The Princeton Fire Department responded, and the fire escalated to two alarms, drawing mutual aid from nine additional fire companies including Princeton Plasma Physics Lab Fire Department, Plainsboro, Princeton Junction, Rocky Hill, Kingston, Lawrenceville, Hopewell, Montgomery, and Monmouth Junction. The fire was brought under control by approximately 7:11 AM EDT after burning for nearly two hours. The building was unoccupied at the time because classes were not in session for the summer. Princeton Seminary President M. Craig Barnes confirmed that all students, faculty, and staff were safe. The cause of the fire was under investigation.
Outcome
Lenox House sustained significant damage to the third floor and roof. No injuries were reported. Cause was under investigation.
Provenance

Sources

  1. News
    Firefighters battle two-alarm blaze at Princeton Theological Seminary building - Planet Princeton
    planetprinceton.com
  2. denominational media
    Princeton Seminary building damaged by fire - Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
    pcusa.org
  3. News
    No Injuries Reported In Princeton Theological Seminary Fire - Patch
    patch.com
  4. News
    Princeton Theological Seminary fire - 6ABC Philadelphia
    6abc.com
Tags
firebuilding-firetwo-alarmseminarypresbyterianprincetonnew-jerseyhistoric-buildingearly-morningfaculty-offices
Added May 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion