A man has been charged with arson in connection with a house fire in southwest Lawrence on Friday.

Benjamin J. Bieker, 32, of Lawrence, lived at the address he’s accused of damaging by fire or explosive on Friday, according to the arson charge filed Monday in Douglas County District Court. The alleged crime is a felony.

Benjamin J. Bieker

Bieker was arrested at the scene Friday afternoon and remained in jail Wednesday, according to jail records.

At a court hearing Wednesday afternoon, Bieker’s appointed attorney, Gerald Wells, said the property belonged to Bieker’s parents but they did not live there.

Wells also said his client had a history of mental health problems and requested that Judge Sally Pokorny order a competency evaluation, which she did. Pokorny also agreed to lower Bieker’s bond, which was originally set at $5,000, to $2,500.

The fire remains under investigation, Division Chief Eve Tolefree of Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical said Wednesday in an email.

According to an earlier news release from the department:

The two-alarm fire was reported shortly after 3 p.m. Friday at 3432 Chance Lane. When crews arrived at the scene, they saw smoke from a broken window on the second story of the home. They extinguished the fire within 30 minutes.

All occupants of the residence got out before firefighters arrived. No one was hurt.

Damage to the home was estimated at $52,000.