Two American Fork homes were badly damaged Thursday morning in a fire that began in an abandoned home.

American Fork firefighters reported the fire began just after 11 a.m. in an abandoned home near 500 East and 200 North.

"When we arrived it had fully engulfed the garage section of the house," said Capt. Tyson Frazier.

Frazier said the fire significantly damaged the garage, lower bedroom and kitchen in the abandoned home.

The fire also burned half of a neighbor's backyard shed, and the neighbor's siding and car were damaged from exposure to the smoke and flames. Frazier said the damage is estimated at $60,000 to $80,000, but it could have been much worse.

"We were able to pretty much keep the house next door from exposure," he said.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Frazier said the owners of the home moved out a week ago, and neighbors did not know of anyone moving in soon. Firefighters have not yet been able to contact the home's owners.