The Niles Township Fire Department responded to a vehicle fire shortly before 1 p.m. Wednesday in the 1700 block of Pucker Street Drive.

Fire Chief Gary Brovold said the car caught fire shortly after the owners attempted to start the vehicle, which was parked outside and a few feet away from a detached garage.

Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire before it could spread to the garage.

The vehicle is a total loss.

The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department assisted on the scene.