A total of nine vehicles caught fire early Tuesday in Bay Shore, police say.

They say a car fire sparked a chain reaction that spread to eight other vehicles in the parking lot of the Fairfield Apartments around 5:30 a.m.

Residents say it was a rude awakening after Independence Day.

"I looked at my car, and it was just a mess," says James Kennedy.

Police are investigating the cause of the original fire, but residents say they were told it was not fireworks.