UPDATE: Four Homes Engulfed in Flames in Heritage Harbour Area

Updated (4:53 p.m.)—A three-alarm fire involving multiple houses broke out around noon Wednesday on Compass Drive, an Anne Arundel County Fire Department spokesman said.

The fire broke out in the rear of a home in the 2600 block of Compass Drive in Annapolis, in the Lighthouse Villas neighborhood near Heritage Harbour, an active adult community. The fire then spread to three adjacent residences. 

Anne Arundel County Fire Department (AACFD) Chief Keith Swindle said the fire was active and "not under control," at 12:30 p.m., but by 1 p.m. the fire had been contained. There were no injuries as a result of the fire, Swindle said.

More than 60 firefighters responded to the house fires from agencies across Anne Arundel County, including Severna Park, Arnold, and the Naval Academy Fire Department, Swindle said. A full list of the agencies involved was not yet available.

Lt. Jack Beall with AACFD said residents were able to evacuate without incident due to functioning smoke detectors and sprinklers.

"Residential sprinklers activated allowing the occupants to exit safely from the dwelling," Beall said. 

Swindle said the fire caused a total of $750,000 to the four homes. Three adults were displaced from their residences and are being assisted by the Red Cross.

The cause for the fire is still under investigation, Swindle said.