photo by: Chris Conde/Journal-World

Fire and medical crews respond to a fire at the Brandon Woods senior living facility in west Lawrence on Aug. 19, 2024.

Updated at 5:25 p.m., Monday, Aug. 19, 2024.

Dozens of residents and staff were evacuated Monday from the Brandon Woods at Alvamar senior living facility in west Lawrence after a three-story independent-living apartment building caught fire.

Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical crews responded to the fire around noon on Monday and immediately began the evacuation of the apartment building that was on fire as well as the surrounding apartment buildings and homes. Brandon Woods, 1501 Inverness Drive, provides independent living, assisted living and memory care services to senior citizens and retirees.

Flames could be seen shooting from the rooftop of the building while fire crews doused the fire with multiple hoses surrounding the fire.

All residents have been accounted for and there were no injuries to residents, said McKenzi Ezell, spokesperson for LDCFM, but one Lawrence police officer was transported from the scene suffering from smoke inhalation. Residents were later transported off-site to get out of the heat and the excessive amount of smoke in the area.

photo by: Chris Conde/Journal-World

A Lawrence Transit bus arrives to transport Brandon Woods residents out of the area during a fire on Aug. 19, 2024.

“We have a few locations that the residents are at right now and then and we have arranged for the City of Lawrence transit department buses to come pick (the remaining) people up and take them to an air-conditioned facility,” Ezell said.

Ezell said the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

In a news release sent just after 5 p.m. the department reported 85 residents were transported to Bella Sera Condominiums, 4500 Bob Billings Parkway. Those residents have been connected to resources with the Red Cross and Douglas County Emergency Management to identify alternative housing options.

The fire was under control by 2:20 p.m. but crews will remain onsite overnight. LDCFM received mutual aid from Douglas County Consolidated Fire District No. 1, Olathe Fire Department, Overland Park Fire Department, and Johnson County MED-ACT. The mutual aid assisted with additional coverage for the City of Lawrence and Douglas County during this incident, the release said.

The fire affected a portion of the Brandon Woods facility that provides independent living options for seniors, resident Bud Watson told the Journal-World.

“Where they are working is my apartment,” Watson said.

Watson had gone out on Monday to visit his wife, Sandra, who is in long term care at the nearby Pioneer Ridge senior living community. He said he just checked her into that facility last week.

“I’m glad she’s not involved in any of this,” Watson said.

Watson had only lived at his 900-square-foot apartment for about a year and had planned on moving in September. He was in good spirits as he greeted staff members and other residents watching the fire.

“Everything’s gonna work out. Yeah, the good Lord, will show us the way,” Watson said.

Dozens of other residents took shelter under the shade of trees while Brandon Woods staff members consoled them and brought them cold water until buses arrived.

An administrator on site referred questions to an off-site corporate spokesperson. The Journal-World has reached out to the corporate spokesperson for additional details on the number of residents impacted, and what living arrangements would be made available to them.

photo by: Chris Conde/Journal-World

Fire and medical crews respond to a fire at the Brandon Woods senior living facility in west Lawrence on Aug. 19, 2024.

photo by: Chris Conde/Journal-World

Fire and medical crews are responding to a fire at Brandon Woods senior living facility in west Lawrence on Aug. 19, 2024.

photo by: Chris Conde/Journal-World

Residents sit outside the Brandon Woods senior living facility on Aug. 19, 2024, after fire and medical crews evacuated the facility to battle a fire.

photo by: Chris Conde/Journal-World

Fire and medical crews battle a fire at the Brandon Woods senior living facility in west Lawrence on Aug. 19, 2024

photo by: Chris Conde/Journal-World

A line of emergency vehicles awaits outside Brandon Woods senior living on Aug, 19, 2024.