Residents in a small San Elizario neighborhood said they have been wanting the owner of the abandoned home in their neighborhood to tear down the half-constructed home for over five years.

And while most said they are glad to see this eye sore gone, most agree they didn't want it destroyed by a fire.

At around 11 this morning fire fighters worked to put out the flames burning what was left of an abandoned home.

"I thought it was my house on fire, and I said, oh, it can't be. I looked out the window and saw the house across the street was on fire," said Letty Diez from San Elizario.

"My neighbors were yelling your house is burning down. All of a sudden I just turned to the house on this side and everything was up in flames," said Fernando Lazalee, who lives next door.

Lazalee said he watched as part of his home was also scorched by the flames.

"My brother-in laws car was damaged, the paint got burnt, both windows that were on that side of the house were broken," Lazalee said.

Lazalee and other neighbors were not surprised by the blaze, instead, they believe it was bound to happen because the abandoned home was always full of kids getting into trouble.

"Kids hang out there and they do drugs, they are always there," Diez said.

"My mom once went down there and there was kid with a gun out there," Lazalee said.

For Lazalee's family, the situation was frustrating. And while the home is finally gone, he says he now worries about another nearby abandoned home catching fire like this one.

"These houses out here are pretty much getting us in danger because we are so close and they are getting on fire and the city is not doing anything about it," said Lazalee.

Lazalee said he tried to contact his city representative about the situations going on at the abandoned home, but he said no one would listen.

Fire investigators say the fire was intentionally set on Sunday evening and they continue to look for the arsonist responsible.

Investigators said there was $30,000 in damage done, which includes the abandoned home, the next door neighbor's home and the car.

Arson is a second degree felony.

If caught, fire officials said the person, or people responsible face 2 to 20 years in prison and or up to a $20,000 fine.