Beyoncé’s reported New Orleans mansion fire being investigated as arson
A $2.4 million historic New Orleans mansion reportedly owned by Beyoncé caught fire Wednesday night — and the blaze is now under investigation as a “simple arson.”
The fire began at 6:15 p.m. central daylight time and was fully extinguished by 8:30 p.m. after 22 firefighters reported to the scene, a department spokesperson confirmed to The Post.
“If they didn’t get there when they did, it could have been much worse. It’s a historic home,” the spokesperson told The Post, adding that there were no injuries and no evacuations.
Local outlet Nola.com previously reported that the property was owned by the 39-year-old “Homecoming” superstar and her husband, rap legend and Roc Nation guru Jay-Z, a k a Shawn Carter, 51.
The cause of the Garden District fire — which was contained by 7 p.m. and rose to only a one-alarm status — has not been determined. However, ABC affiliate WGNO reported Thursday evening that New Orleans police are investigating the blaze as “simple arson” and that the department “received a report of a suspicious person in the area around the time of the fire.”
Sugarcane Park LLC acquired the home in 2015. The LLC is managed by Celestine Lawson (the legal name of Beyoncé’s mother, who is better known as Miss Tina) and is registered at a Sherman Oaks address where the singer has several other LLCs.
Although the home is assessed at over $2.4 million, it transferred hands in 2015 at only a nominal recorded price of $100, according to city records. It had been listed on the market for $2.5 million in 2013 by the previous owner, Sandra C. McNamara, records show.
The six-bedroom, six-and-a-half bathroom home was built in 1927 as the Westminster Presbyterian church, according to Realtor.com. The building spans 15,200 square feet, according to city records.
It housed an eight-dancer ballet company before it was converted to a home in 2000, according to Realtor.com.
It has a 26-foot-tall great room, which was once the sanctuary. It features wood floors, a patio and a balcony, according to the listing.
There has been work done on the property since the most recent pictures were taken in 2013, permit and inspection records show.
A representative for Beyoncé did not return The Post’s request for comment.
