Cliff house owners go for 'demolition by fire'

The owners of a luxury home in Texas that was teetering atop a collapsing cliff have opted to burn the place down in order to minimise debris contaminating the lake below.

The chalk-like rock of the cliff began to erode last year with the 21-metre drop to Lake Witney below making its way to the foundation of the house in recent weeks.

This week the house began to crumble into the lake. With its entire collapse appearing imminent, the house was marked for demolition and property owners Robert and Jenyce Webb faced a the bill for cleaning up any wreckage that fell in the lake.

On Thursday the Webbs opted to raze it to the ground with fire in the hope the charred materials would be easier to contain in the lake's waters and reduce the clean-up operation.

Firefigthers used petrol and flares to start the almighty fire, prompting neighbours and onlookers to gather nearby to witness the spectacle.

The Hills County Chief Deputy Mark Wilson said the house "could go at any time" but there were no other homes in danger, however no dwellings in the area required permits or approval before they were built.

Source: Gawker
Author: Nicholas McCallum, Approving editor: Kieran Campbell