YORK — Firefighters prevented a fire from spreading to nearby homes in a tightly developed beachfront community this afternoon, rapidly extinguishing the blaze that erupted in an apartment building on York Beach.

Fire Chief Dave Bridges said strong winds were driving flames from the second story fire at 151 Long Beach Ave. toward a nearby home – about 3 feet away.

“It was a little nerve-wracking in the beginning,” Bridges said.

Firefighters were able to confine most of the damage to the exterior of the three-story building. Bridges is not sure what caused the fire, but said it started near a propane gas furnace.

No injuries were reported.