photo by: Austin Hornbostel/Journal-World

Emergency crews work the scene of a house fire Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024, at 1941 Massachusetts St.

A fire Tuesday that displaced five people from a historic home on Massachusetts Street was caused by improper storage of a handheld torch in the basement, according to Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical.

Around 2 p.m., dispatchers received a 911 call reporting a fire at 1941 Massachusetts St. Crews arriving at the scene within a couple of minutes found a working fire in the three-story house. The size of the house prompted a request for an additional fire apparatus and, because of “several simultaneous (but unrelated) incidents that were occurring,” mutual aid was requested from Douglas County Consolidated Fire District No. 1.

photo by: Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical

Emergency crews work the scene of a house fire Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024, at 1941 Massachusetts St.

Fire was found in the basement of the house, and it had spread to the first floor, according to Fire Chief Rich Llewellyn.

It took approximately an hour and a half to complete extinguishment, Llewellyn said. No injuries to civilians or responders were reported, but five residents were displaced from the home.

LDCFM investigators determined that the fire was accidental, the result of an improperly stored handheld torch coming into contact “with ordinary combustibles.” Damage estimates were not available Thursday.

The house, known historically as Briar Manor, was built in 1917 by George K. Mackie, a Scottish immigrant and bank president who owned coal mines in southeast Kansas. Twenty years later ownership of the house passed to the Lawrence Women’s Club, and in 1941 it became a KU residence hall, according to a history of the home at union.ku.edu/ladies-clubhouse. The home is now privately owned.