Alpha Fire Company responded to a fire alarm in 113 Fenske at 10:14 a.m. yesterday for a short circuit in a heating unit, said Steven Triebold, Penn State Environmental Health Services program manager.

The room was empty at the time, and the building's occupants were evacuated to the lobby of Eisenhower Auditorium. Everyone was permitted to re-enter the building 20 minutes later, he said. No injuries were reported.

Triebold said wiring in the heating unit caused a small fire and large amounts of smoke. The fire was contained by the time firefighters arrived and no structural damage was reported, Triebold added.

Paul Ruskin, Office of Physical Plant spokesman, said the estimated damage is undetermined at this time.

A State College area woman is charged with simple assault after allegedly attacking her boyfriend Sunday night.

Jennifer Bishop, 35, allegedly used both a hammer and a hatchet to strike the victim and the victim's vehicle at about 10 p.m. Sunday. The incident occurred on the 200 block of East Main Street.

State College police observed bite marks on the victim's upper abdomen, a two-inch bruise on his rib cage and scratches on his face.

Bishop, who was arraigned and released on bail, admitted to hitting the 26-year-old Penn State student, but claimed to have been acting in self-defense after being punched. State College officers did not observe any injuries on Bishop, police reported.

Police said the incident was alcohol-related.