Fire rips through abandoned house in White Center

KING COUNTY, Wash. — Flames gutted an abandoned house in White Center Monday.

The fire at the house on 13th Avenue Southwest was reported at about 4:22 a.m.

The fire started in the basement and had quickly spread to the first floor by the time firefighters arrived.

Neighbors emerged to see the burning home.  One man said he heard three popping noises.

Neighbor Dwayne Jackson tried to put out the fire.

“Smoke was everywhere. I got the water hose and tried to put the fire out" said Jackson.

Neighbors stood by, concerned that there was someone inside.  One neighbor said he knows homeless people will sometimes break into the home and that he tries to run them off, but a search by firefighters confirmed no one was in the home.

The cause of the fire is not yet known.

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