Lightning Blamed For Fire That Destroyed Landmark Stilt House

HUDSON, FL -- Pasco County Fire Rescue says lightning was the cause of the fire that destroyed a landmark stilt house at the mouth of the Cotee River (see related story).

The distinctive stilt home in the Gulf of Mexico, nicknamed the American Flag Stilt Home due to giant American flag painted on it, caught fire Saturday night, Aug. 25. Pasco firefighters were called to the scene at 7:50 p.m. and found the home fully engulfed in flames.

With the help of Pasco County Sheriff's marine units, a portable fire pump from Port Richey Fire Rescue and Palm Harbor Fire Rescue's fireboat, firefighters were able to battle the flames from the water. Nevertheless, the home was completely destroyed.

The owners of the house, brothers Brian and Greg Lake, said they're devastated by the loss but plan to rebuild the stilt house that has been their weekend getaway for 15 years.

The brothers built the house themselves and said it was filled with a lot of family memories that are now a pile of ash.

"We built it once, we'll build it again," Brian Lake said in a media interview.

"We'll start new memories," added Greg Lake.

Video via Traveling with Rick

Image via Pasco County Fire Rescue

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