Joplin Police and Fire officials collaborating on "House of Horrors" fire investigation

Joplin police and fire officials are collaborating on an investigation into a house fire that occurred Thursday morning in north Joplin.

The fire at 610 N. Pool was called into Joplin 911 at 7:39 a.m. The house had received national attention in August of 2026 as the location where a 12-year-old child with special needs had escaped after having been kept in a dog kennel.

Health department officials rescued and recovered more than 80 animals from the home following that incident, removing all animals from the residence. Four adults living in the home were arrested and charged with felony child abuse and neglect and animal neglect and abandonment.

On Thursday morning, Joplin firefighters responded to the blaze, which engulfed the backside of the home. The Joplin Police Department and METS Ambulance also responded.

Captain Austin Wolf with the Joplin Police Department said that detectives are actively working with the Joplin Fire Marshal’s office to investigate the situation. Wolf said investigators believe the home was unoccupied as the four adults who were charged in the case are all still in custody, and no other individuals were authorized to be in the home.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

“We’re assessing every possibility and will continue to work with the Fire Marshal to determine how this occurred,” Wolf said.

Deputy Fire Chief Andy Nimmo said despite its complexity, the fire was controlled within 30 minutes of the arrival of fire units. The fire was free burning on all three levels of the home – the basement, main floor and attic – and there were contents in the home.

“Having a fire above, below, and coming at you is not a good place to be,” Nimmo said. “Despite the situation with this house, you never know when you’re responding to a fire where someone could have been inside.”

While there were no occupants in the home, one cat was found dead inside the residence. Nimmo said officials suspect it was a feral animal that had found a way into the home after all animals had been removed from the home during the investigation in August.

The departments will continue to collaborate on this investigation and are asking anyone with information to contact the Fire Marshal’s office, the Joplin Police Department or the tip hotline at TIP 411.