AUGUSTA -- Firefighters on Saturday were quick to extinguish a fire that started in the basement of an apartment building at 93 Northern Avenue.

Augusta Fire Chief Roger Audette said it only took 10 minutes to bring the fire under control. The call came in at 3:58 p.m.

"It was a small fire in the basement discovered by a neighbor," Audette said. "He heard smoke detectors going off in the building. He went over and saw a little smoke around the basement door and called the fire department. We were able to go in and extinguish it before it extended to the first floor."

State fire marshal investigators were called in to determine the cause, he said. He said the owner of the building lives in Maryland.

No further information was available.