Ottawa firefighters were called in the early hours of the morning to a fire that caused serious damage to three single-family homes in Orléans.
Ottawa Fire Services says they were called to a home on the 2000 block of Noblewood Way at approximately 5:45 a.m.
On arrival, firefighters found two homes had been fully engulfed in smoke and flames, with fire coming out of the roofs and spreading to a third home.
Fire crews declared a second alarm to bring additional resources to the scene. Two vehicles inside garages were also on fire and leaking gasoline.
"There was a high risk the fire could spread to more homes in the row and the homes on the street behind Noblewood Way," Ottawa fire said on social media. Homes on Nature Trail Crescent were also at risk.
Ottawa paramedics were called to the scene and treated a firefighter who suffered second-degree burns on their hands. Another man experienced minor burns and a woman was treated for minor smoke inhalation.
All were released at the scene.
All residents and pets have been accounted for. A total of eight residents will be displaced from the fire.
The fire was put under control shortly after 6:50 a.m. Firefighters remain at the scene to monitor for any flare-ups.
Neighbours in the area said they were awoken by a loud sound.
"It's terrifying. Scary, just still shaking right now," said Willy Tejero, who lives two doors down from where the fire happened.
"At 5:30, 5:35 a.m., I heard a big bang. I looked up at my windows, I saw an orange flash. I ran outside to see if I can help and sure enough, I start banging on the door of two houses down."
He says firefighters and first responders arrived within minutes.
"We're all safe and I'm very thankful for that but now there are families with no homes and the holidays are coming, so I'm sad for them," he said.
An Ottawa Fire investigator has been sent to the scene to investigate the cause and origin of the blaze.
Nature Trail Crescent at Pagé Road and Noblewood Way were closed for several hours, according to a post from Ottawa police on X.
Roads have since reopened.