By RUSS OLIVO

WOONSOCKET — An Attleboro man has been court-ordered to clean up and secure what’s left of a fire-ravaged house he owns at 381 Pond St., city inspection officials say.

George Homsey has until July 23 to provide Building Inspector Donald Gagnon with a plan of compliance or the city will take steps to enforce the order without his participation, officials said.
The charred, blue three-story building was heavily damaged in a fire on May 18, leaving eight people homeless. Large portions of the interior were incinerated and the roof of the building collapsed. Two birds and a cat also perished in the fast-moving blaze.
Homsey has been under orders from the city to either raze or rehabilitate the condemned dwelling since shortly after the fire, inspection officials say. The city has also directed him to remove a large pile of fire-blackened debris from the sidewalk in front of the residence, but Homsey failed to comply in a timely fashion, prompting officials to ask the courts to step in. Homsey couldn’t be reached for comment.
The court order does not necessarily require Homsey to demolish the building, but he must clean up the debris on the property and eliminate whatever safety hazards the remaining structure poses.
One possibility for salvaging the house is to convert it into a two-story building by shearing off and securing the uppermost — and most heavily damaged — level, officials said.
Since the fire, officials said, Homsey has put the house on the market, offering what remains of the site for about $45,900.
Meanwhile, the fire remains under investigation as the State Fire Marshal seeks to rule out arson as a possible cause.
“We’re still trying to find one person of interest to clarify their story,” said Woonsocket Fire Chief Kenneth A. Finlay. “The state fire marshal and the Woonsocket police are still trying to find him.”