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.

The cause of the fire Monday at Brandon Woods at Alvamar has been determined to be accidental due to improper discarding of smoking material, according to a news release Wednesday from Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical.

As the Journal-World reported, dozens of residents and staff were evacuated Monday afternoon from the Brandon Woods senior living facility in west Lawrence, 1501 Inverness Drive, after a three-story independent-living apartment building caught fire.

The origin of the fire was determined to be on a third-floor balcony deck, LDCFM said in the release, and the fire extended into the attic of the structure.

Forty-eight residential units have been reported as damaged, the release said, and approximately 8,200 square feet of roofs have been reported as damaged.

LDCFM, in its damage breakdown report, said two units have heavy damage by fire, smoke and water; five units have moderate damage by fire, smoke and water; five units have minimal damage by smoke and water; and thirty-six units have damage by water.

LDCFM did not provide a property damage cost estimate.

All residents were accounted for and none suffered injuries, as the Journal-World reported, but one police officer was treated for smoke inhalation.

LDCFM reported Monday evening that 85 residents were taken 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.

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.