CAMDEN — It took Camden firefighters eight seconds to respond to a car fire just before 3 p.m., Dec. 17,, and the 1997 Volvo was largely left intact despite heavy engine damage. So much so that the tools in the trunk were saved, and all the owner's belongings in the back seat were likewise unscathed.

The swift work to douse the fire was in part due to the proximity of the vehicle, which was parked on Washington Street in Camden, almost directly across the road from the Camden Fire Dept.

The owner had arrived in Camden after driving down from Northport. He parked the car, and walked around the corner for an errand, said Camden Fire Chief Chris Farley. Just five minutes after, a police officer at the Camden Public Safety Building noticed smoke rising from underneath the engine compartment of the Volvo.

Firefighters pulled Engine 4 over to the smoking car, lifted the hood, and began hosing down the fire with approximately 200 gallons of water. No foam was used, said Farley.

He said the fire possibly started from a loose battery wire, which potentially arced and sparked.

The car is considered a loss except for what is salvageable, such as tires, the interior, and other components. The Volvo was in great shape for its age, firefighters reported, without a speck of rust.

Camden Exxon responded and transported the car to a garage.