Four months later, burned home stands

Feb. 26--A Mitchell house that was partially destroyed by fire is still standing four months later but will have to be torn down, according to Wade London, the city's code enforcement officer.

The house, located at 615 W. Fourth Ave., sustained extensive heat and smoke damage in an Oct. 18

A few days after the fire, signs were posted by London forbidding anyone from entering the house, which has been unoccupied ever since.

London said he has been in periodic contact with Joel Ward, the owner of the property, as Ward has gone through the insurance process after the fire. Ward intends to sell the property, according to London, and was recently informed that the house has been declared a nuisance by the city.

"We're just trying to get him to sell the property and tear the house down," London said.

The cold weather has contributed to the delay, because it makes it difficult for utility companies to come out and shut down service prior to demolition, London said.

Butch Odegaard, a neighbor who lives at 616 W. Fourth Ave., across from the burned house, said he wants the house to be torn down.

"If it's just going to sit there, it just makes everybody's house around the area worth that much less," he said.

Odegaard said many of the neighbors in the area have been frustrated by the lack of action at the house.

"I know it's the feeling of all the neighbors," he said. "They want something done with it."

Robert Pomani, 33, was charged in October with reckless burning in connection with the fire. At the time, an investigator said Pomani may have started the fire in retaliation for a report Ward made to the police in connection with an alleged assault between Pomani and another person, as well as alleged drug activity by Pomani.

Pomani pleaded not guilty to the reckless burning charge, a felony with a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.

In January, Pomani was charged with possession of methamphetamine for allegedly possessing the drug on the day before the fire, Oct. 17. Pomani appeared in court Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to the meth charge, a felony with a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Pomani is scheduled to stand trial on both charges in May.

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