A fire at a mansion believed to be owned by musicians Beyoncé and her husband Jay-Z is being investigated as possible arson after the building in the Garden District of New Orleans went up in smoke on Wednesday night.

A New Orleans Police Department spokesperson confirmed yesterday that officers had received reports of a suspicious person being near the $3m (€2.55m) property.

The city’s fire department said the property had been vacant for some time, and that 22 responders attended the scene.

There were no reported injuries or evacuations, and the full extent of the damage remains unclear.

“If they didn’t get there when they did, it could have been much worse,” a department spokesperson told the New York Post, adding: “It’s a historic home.”

The fire is estimated to have taken almost two hours to extinguish.

Neighbours who did not want to be identified told local news outlet Nola.com that “people are known to use an unlocked gate to come on to and leave the property”.

The three-storey building, which spans more than 13,200sq ft, was originally built 97 years ago as a Westminster Presbyterian church and was later turned into a ballet school.

It was then converted into a luxury home.

Previous listings have described it as “ideal for creative types that want large spaces and/or like to entertain”.

According to real estate company Zillow, the property boasts seven bedrooms, eight bathrooms, bold arched windows, 25ft ceilings and a rooftop garden with views of the city – including the Mississippi River Bridge and the Superdome.

According to reports, the house was bought by Sugarcane Parkin 2015, a California-based company that has the same registered address as other companies owned by 39-year-old Beyoncé, a mother of three.

The company is managed by Celestine Lawson, the legal name of Beyoncé’s mother, who goes by Tina Knowles.

Earlier this year, TMZ reported that storage units owned by Beyoncé’s production company, Parkwood Entertainment, were raided by burglars who made off with an estimated $1m in goods. The belongings, which included bags and dresses, were stolen from a property in Los Angeles.

In March, Beyoncé made history after winning her 28th Grammy award. She has more Grammys than any other female artist.

“I am so honoured, I’m so excited,” she said at the time.

© Washington Post