Sprinklers were activated in both buildings, but the causes are still unknown.

Harris said when he and other firefighters arrived at Nicholas Tower, they found an activated sprinkler and a strange odor in the hallway. The smell was initially believed to be from a gas leak, so the building was immediately evacuated.

Police and firefighters did a door-to-door sweep of the building, pounding on doors to make sure all occupants left their apartments. "We had some people who didn't want to leave, but we did eventually get everyone out of the building," Harris said.

Harris said a Centre Area Transportation Authority (CATA) bus was dispatched to the scene to keep residents warm during the hour and a half they were evacuated. During that time, Pugh Street was closed between Foster and Nittany avenues.

After investigating the site, Harris said firefighters determined there was no leak. He said the odor was probably from water that had stagnated in the sprinkler pipes. The reason for the discharge is still unknown.

The scene was cleared, and residents were allowed back into their apartments shortly after 4 a.m., Harris said.

Sgt. Christian Fishel of the State College Police Department said there is no investigation into the incident or the incident that occurred at Marion Place the previous night.

Nicholas Tower resident Carly Markowitz (junior-advertising and public relations) said water soaked the floor of her apartment, but there was no personal property damaged.

Markowitz added that other residents told her firecrackers lighted by tenants on the floor set off the sprinklers.

Ashley Mincarelli (junior-psychology) said she also heard that rumor. She ignored the alarm at first when it went off because she said false alarms are common in the building.

"I wasn't going to leave, but my roommates came in screaming," Mincarelli said. She added that she went to a friend's house after officials did not allow her back in her apartment for about an hour. "I was in my socks and no shoes, and I was freezing," she said.

Other residents were directed to the CATA bus, Days Inn Penn State, 240 S. Pugh St., and Gumby's Pizza, 300 S. Pugh St., until they could be let into their apartments, Mincarelli said.

In a similar incident, fire engine captain William DeArmitt said Alpha Fire Co. received a call for a sprinkler discharging on the seventh floor of Marion Place at about 2 a.m. Saturday morning.

When they arrived on the scene, firefighters found no fire but smelled a gas odor in the hallway. Gas lines for fireplaces on the top three floors of the building were turned off. DeArmitt added the fireplaces were not the building's only sources of heat during the cold weather.

Residents were evacuated, and Nittany Avenue was closed between Pugh and Allen streets until officials determined the apartment complex was safe to re-enter at about 5 a.m. Two CATA buses were brought to the scene to house residents during the incident