Complex sentence: The Cliffs burned on February 22,1986, due to vandalism and arson, and the firefighters were unable to extinguish the fire because their heavy trucks sank in the heavy clay earth surrounding the house.
Split into simpler sentences: The Cliffs burned on February 22,1986, due to vandalism and arson. Firefighters were unable to extinguish the fire because their heavy trucks sank in the clay earth surrounding the house.