A woman and her two sons had to find temporary accomodations Thursday night after a rowhouse fire on Aladdin Lane tore through their home.

The call at 3549 Aladdin Ln., a six-unit rowhouse in a neighbourhood close to the intersection of Lester and Albion roads, came in at about 5:20 p.m.

Fire department spokesman Marc Messier said the three people who live in the fire-affected unit weren't home at the time. One son was at work while the other was out with his mother.

The family dog and two cats died, Messier said.

The basement of the end unit was engulfed in flames when firefighters first arrived. The first floor soon became unstable and an evacuation was ordered shortly after. The first floor then became engulfed in flames.

Messier said the fire was contained to the affected unit, but the next-door unit suffered minor water and smoke damage.

There were no reports of injuries. Damage to the end unit was pegged at about $300,000, Messier said, adding that the family has insurance.