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A car fire atop a three-story parking building was extinguished by the Berkeley Fire Department in less than half an hour on Tuesday. 

Because the parking garage at 2999 Regent St. borders a seven-story medical building, the department reacted in force, calling out 24 fire fighters, five engines, two ladder trucks, an ambulance and a chief. 

The blaze was reported at about 2:40 p.m. and extinguished by about 3:15 p.m. 

Assistant chief David Orth said cars can catch fire without incident. 

He said, for example, it’s not that unusual for a fire to break out in a vehicle that has recently had mechanical work done to it. “When a carburetor is rebuilt (for example), that happens,” he said.