A Merritt Drive home that sustained fire damage Tuesday night has been deemed uninhabitable by Hillsborough Township Construction Officials.

According to a release from the Hillsborough Township Police Department, township emergency services responded to the call of a basement fire in a Merritt Drive townhouse, belonging to Cliff Lee, at 8:42 p.m. Tuesday. Upon arriving at the scene, a heavy smoke condition and small fire in the residence basement prompted the evacuation of its four occupants. Eight other residences connected tot eh unit were also evacuated.

The fire was contained to the basement and was extinguished by the responding fire companies. No injuries were sustained during the fire.

While the townhouse was deemed uninhabitable, the neighboring residents were allowed to return to their homes after about one hour, police said.

The fire's cause is unknown and is being investigated by the Hillsborough Township Police and the Hillsborough Fire Safety Bureau.

Responding agencies include the Hillsborough Township Rescue Squad, Hillsborough Volunteer Fire Companies 1, 2, and 3, Neshanic Fire Company 48, Hillsborough Township Fire Safety, Hillsborough Township Construction Department and the Somerville Rescue Squad.