LANCASTER, S.C. -- A large brush fire spread to a retirement community near the North Carolina and South Carolina border Thursday afternoon.

The Lancaster County Fire Marshall says the fire was reported in the woods near the community at 3:30, and quickly spread to three homes, completely destroying them. 

A resident we spoke to said he could not believe he'd just lost everything.

Five other residences were also damaged by the fire. 

Thursday saw heavy wind gusts, which likely helped the fire spread. There is no word on what sparked that fire originally. 

The Red Cross is assisting at least four people.