Three people, including a firefighter, were injured and a family of four were forced to find elsewhere to stay after a fire broke out in a Kanata row house early Saturday morning.

The blaze started in a kitchen on the main floor just before 7 a.m. at 172 McCurdy Dr., near Hazeldean and Castlefrank roads.

Two parents and their daughter were home at the time, while the son was at work. Two were asleep and woke up when the fire alarm started.

The father tried to put out the flames with a fire extinguisher and suffered burns.

Pot left on stove to blame

The fire department said a pot left on the stove caused the blaze.

By the time firefighters arrived, the row house had been evacuated. The flames were contained and brought under control at about 7:08 a.m.

A 57-year-old man with burns on his hands and face was treated by paramedics, as well as his 20-year-old daughter who had an asthma attack brought on by smoke. Both were taken to hospital.

A 48-year-old firefighter was also treated and taken to hospital for a muscle injury.

The fire caused $300,000 in damage to the building and its contents. Neighbouring row house units were not damaged.