A sinkhole that opened up early last month in Stafford is growing, and threatens to swallow up two homes.
Ora Barnes and Dan O'Leary, who own the two houses on Brush Everard Court, are hoping an engineering firm can offer them a solution to the slow-moving landslide. The sliding dirt has already swept most of their backyards down hill.
The sinkhole, approximately 100-feet wide and 30-feet deep, developed after days of heavy rain in early September.
Stafford County officials deemed the so hole so dangerous the two homes have been condemned. In the second week of September, a chain link fence topped by barbed wire went up around both properties, to keep curious onlookers from wandering around back and falling off the cliff.
Geotechnical engineers are on site drilling 65 foot deep holes to take soil and water samples to try to figure out what to do next. The evaluation will cost $15,000.
The homeowners said after consulting attorneys, they have discovered the monetary burden to fix the problem is all on them. A local church, Ebenezer United Methodist, has come to their aid, collecting donations.
The engineers' evaluation could take several weeks.
