It was late in the twenty-four hours when it finally happened. A puff of smoke appeared but over the rooftop at the far right side of the firm, then another appeared, nigh the chimney.

Within moments smoke was pouring from the unabridged roof and flickers of orange flame began actualization in the windows.

A cheer went up from the assembled crowd as the flames grew; shortly the roof weakened and began to collapse. A dozen firefighters stood by, cheering along with the oversupply.

Huh?

Usually, a home called-for to the basis is a tragedy, a disaster, a crime – or all 3. This, all the same, was a welcomed event that would benefit the homeowners, the burn down section, and dozens of families we'd never meet.

What?

OK, maybe a little groundwork is needed hither.

Why fire a house downwards?

The derelict dwelling my clients had purchased wasn't worth much; in fact the simply existent value was in the property, a sloping lot with several large copse, located in a repose Midwestern college town.

This was the site they'd chosen for their dream home. Problem was, there was already a house there.
Whenever possible, existing homes should be remodeled, renovated, reused. After all, reusing an existing home is the height of sustainability. Just this petty home was as well far gone from years of neglect – it wasn't worth saving.

Simply that didn't mean it couldn't serve a higher purpose (or 2).

The owners starting time contacted the local Habitat For Humanity "ReStore," a disbelieve habitation improvement store that re-sells new and reusable home improvement building materials. Habitat's volunteers came to the house and picked up cabinets, appliances, doors, windows, hardware, and anything else they could salvage and resell.

Habitat uses the funds from reselling these salvaged items to advance their mission of eliminating substandard housing and creating homeownership.

That'due south a cracking way to make use of perfectly good building materials that otherwise might have ended upward in a landfill – and that the owners would have had to pay to haul away and that would have been a benefit to no 1.

The side by side call was to the local fire section, to let them know they were planning on burning the house down. Manifestly, they were thrilled! No really, they were – because the owners offered the house for a training burn. A training burn down is a controlled burn, giving the firemen a take a chance to practise firefighting techniques in a existent earth scenario.

The fire department arrived later Habitat had taken away everything useful. They put wood pallets and hay bales in each room and burned them one at a fourth dimension. The exercise lasted all solar day; they'd burn, put out the burn, and burn again.

They'd invited all the neighbors, who came with lawn chairs and blankets. It was almost like a 4th of July picnic, only with bigger, hotter fireworks.

It was fascinating to watch the burn down – and a sobering reminder of the dangers that firefighters confront in service to the customs. We were all kept about a hundred anxiety from the house but even at that distance, the heat from the fire was incredible.

After a total solar day of preparation, information technology was time to burn down the house for existent. The fire department set one more strategically located burn and let it runs its grade. A backhoe stood by and used its bucket to push the house in on itself as it burned, keeping the burning debris within the dwelling'due south foundation walls.

When the burn ended, lilliputian was left merely the foundation walls and ashes, saving the owners the cost of demolishing the house and hauling the debris to a landfill.

Before long, a new abode rose where the onetime one had stood, and a new family unit moved into the neighborhood.

Somewhere, miles away, someone bought some building materials from Habitat For Humanity and helped put many more families into homes they thought they'd never have.

Not every business firm is a expert candidate for a training fire; burn down departments are picky well-nigh the ones they cull. And of form a house that tin can be renovated should be. Just when information technology makes sense to burn a house down, the benefits spread throughout your community in ways yous might non imagine and may never know about.

And it'southward a neat manner to get to know your neighbors:

"Honey, these are the Smiths. They just moved in and they've invited u.s.a. to their "business firm-warming" next week!"

Related:

Tips for Burn down Safety in Your Home

How to Figure the Value of Empty Building Lots

Beware of Value-Killing Renovations

Richard Taylor is a residential architect based in Dublin, Ohio and is a contributor to Zillow Weblog. Connect with him at http://www.rtastudio.com/index.htm.

Note: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and practice not necessarily reflect the stance or position of Zillow.