Homicide detectives are investigating a car fire that happened near a residential neighborhood in West Babylon this afternoon.

The car fire happened at an abandoned gas station around 2 p.m. at the corner of Little East Neck Road and Amsterdam Avenue.

Smoke was pouring out of the vehicle and a burnt-out shell of that vehicle was still at the location as of 4:30 p.m.

Homicide detectives, the county medical examiner and crime scene investigators were at the scene.

Neighbors say they heard a loud noise when the fire started.

"I just heard a big bang and then I looked out the window, saw the cops," said Rich Sito. "I was wondering what happened - I thought maybe it was a bomb or something."

There is no word on what caused the fire to start.