House fire under investigation

Bright orange flames could be seen from a distance as an abandoned house burned Sunday night.

"After we heard the sirens, we came out to see if they were on this side of the street or the other side ... there was a huge plume of smoke coming out and then we could start to see the flicker of yellow flames above the roof," said neighbor Gary Bonner.

The fire started around 7 p.m. at a home on the 700 block of East Platte Avenue near Colorado Springs. Firefighters said it started on the upper floor and spread to the roof and attic.

After they got the fire under control, firefighters remained on scene for most of the night putting out any hot spots.

Bonner said the homes on the street are close together and worried what would have happened if firefighters hadn't contained the flames.

"With the close proximity of the houses here to each other, if it falls over it goes into a neighbor's house."

The fire remains under investigation. Bonner told 11 News the house has stood vacant for years, but that it hasn't stopped people from coming and going, including homeless looking for a place to keep warm.

Firefighters haven't said what they believe may have started the fire.

No one was injured.