Photo by Corey Bayer

 STEELE, N.D. (AP) – A Texas man has pleaded not guilty to burning down a motel in North Dakota and putting people’s lives in danger.
     Fifty-one-year-old Allen Thomas is charged with one count of arson and 18 counts of endangering by fire.

All of the felony charges carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison upon conviction.
     The Houston man was staying at the Lone Steer Motel in Steele at
the time of the Aug. 12 fire, which didn’t hurt anyone but
displaced about two dozen people.

Authorities allege that Thomas used a cigarette lighter to ignite a mattress because he was upset that the hotel owners had helped his girlfriend after the two had argued.

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Previously…

Texas Man Faces 19 Felony Charges, Lone Steer Motel Fire

STEELE, N.D. (AP) – A Texas man accused of burning down a hotel
in North Dakota now faces 19 felony charges.
     Fifty-year-old Allen Thomas was charged earlier with arson in the Aug. 12 fire at the Lone Steer Motel in Steele.

The Houston man now also faces 18 counts of endangering by fire or explosion.

All of the charges carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison upon
conviction.
     No one was hurt in the fire but about two dozen people were
displaced.

Authorities have said little about why Thomas is believed to have started the blaze.
 Thomas made his initial court appearance on the new charges Monday. He was given an application for a public defender.

 

Previously….

 BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – A 50-year-old Texas man has been charged with setting the fire that destroyed the Lone Steer Motel in Steele.
Allen Thomas could spend up to 10 years in prison if he’s convicted on the arson charge.
Thomas is from Houston.  

He’s being held in the McLean County jail in Washburn.

 

Alan Thomas

A district court judge has set bond at $1 million cash for Thomas.

The Bismarck Tribune reports  that  Thomas appeared Wednesday via interactive television from the McLean County Courthouse.

The hearing was held at the Burleigh County Courthouse.

  Steele Police Chief David Feland says Thomas is being held in
McLean County because the jails in nearby Burleigh and Morton
counties were both full.

State authorities and the federal Bureau of Tobacco, Alcohol, Firearms and Explosives are investigating the Sunday morning fire.

The federal agency estimates the damage at $1.5 million.

No one was reported injured. The fire displaced about two dozen
people.

 

 Reported earlier….

STEELE, N.D. (AP) — A 50-year-old man was arrested Monday (Aug 13, 2012)  on suspicion of starting a weekend fire that destroyed a popular motel in the North Dakota town of Steele.

The man had not been charged as of late Monday afternoon.

The Lone Steer Motel Restaurant and Lodge — located just off Interstate 94 about 40 miles east of Bismarck — burned to the ground Sunday morning.

All of the two-dozen people in the building got out safely, though some had to exit second-floor windows, make a short drop to another roof and then jump into the bed of a pickup truck parked next to the motel,

Most of the people staying there were with a construction crew working in the area.

Police Chief David Feland says, “Everybody’s accounted for.

Two investigators with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were called in, as were the state Bureau of Criminal Investigation and state fire marshal.

Steele firefighter Rob Dewitz told North Dakota Public Radio that the call came in about 8:45 a.m. and there was little that firefighters could do.

He says, “You could see smoke coming out from the soffit, most of the way around the building.  That tells us it’s already in the attic, and it’s pretty involved.”

Red Cross officials helped people find other places to stay.

The motel also housed a restaurant, casino and bar, and was a popular gathering spot for residents.

Feland adds, of the motels destruction, “It ends an era in Steele.”

On scene photos by Cory Bayer

Reported earlier…

STEELE, N.D. (AP) – Authorities are working to determine the cause of a fire that destroyed a motel in the North Dakota town of Steele.     The Lone Steer Motel in the town just off Interstate 94 burned to the ground Sunday morning.  (Aug 1, 2012).

Steele firefighter Rob Dewitz says the call came in about 8:45 am Sunday.  When  firefighters arrived on the scene, the building was completely involved by the fire.

 All of the two dozen people in the building got out safely, though some had to exit second-floor windows, make a short drop to another roof and then jump into the bed of a pickup truck parked next to the motel.     Police Chief David Feland says arson has not been ruled out. Two arson investigators with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are being called in.