Officials investigating the fire at a New Orleans historic mansion said to be owned by Beyoncé and her husband Jay-Z believe it may have been an act of arson.
The fire erupted Wednesday evening in the historical Garden District mansion. While there, firefighters found books inside an oven and a gas canister in the home, Newsbreak reported.
Authorities believe someone may have intentionally set the fire.
Neighbors from the area told NOLA.com that authorities also believe someone broke into the mansion before the fire started. Another said, “people are known to use an unlocked gate to come onto and leave the property.”
However, Jacques Michelle, a resident of the area, said she hadn’t seen anyone inside the house in years.
“Inside the house, I’ve never seen any activity in the two years I’ve been here,” she told NOLA.com. “No activity at all.” Beyoncé has only owned the home since 2018.
The mansion’s fire alarm went off around 6:20 p.m. on Wednesday. They had just received a call of someone reporting a “suspicious person” one block from the scene.
Authorities have connected the two.
Luckily, no one was injured in the fire. At the time of the fire, no one lived there, but officials did say it had working utilities.
Investigators were inside the home on Thursday with the fire department, police department, and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
The investigation remains ongoing.
