Portobello firefighters were quick off the mark when alerted to a car fire on the Otago Peninsula last night.
The early 1980s sedan was discovered ablaze at 8.32pm at Seal Point Rd, Sandymount.
''We have our training at the station every Wednesday night, come rain, hail or shine. So, we were there within a minute,'' chief fire officer Bruce Didham said last night.
''It looks like the vehicle has been abandoned there and it appears to have been deliberately lit.''
The Portobello fire unit was at the scene for about 40 minutes, Mr Didham said.
Police were investigating the fire.
