Twenty people have been displaced by fire after someone carelessly disposed of smoking materials on a balcony at a condominium building in Halifax.

The fire was reported at the four-unit building on Parkland Drive in Clayton Park around 6 p.m. Monday.

Tenant Evan MacKay and his girlfriend were in their apartment when they started to smell smoke and ran outside.

"Smoke billowing out of everything,” MacKay says. “We couldn't see, and the fire started up top there and just got bigger. A propane tank exploded into flames."

No injuries were reported, but the four condo units sustained smoke, fire and water damage.

Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency says this is the fourth fire caused by careless disposal of smoking materials in the Halifax area in the past two weeks.

"It was a cigarette butted out in a planter,” says Matt Covey of Halifax Fire. “The planter is obviously really dry right now, and they butted out in the planter that has wood in it and that's where the fire started."

Officials say recent fires on Quinpool Road, Pleasant Street and in Popes Harbour have all been caused the same way.

"A planter box is never okay to dispose of smoking materials,” Covey says. “We recommend a steel container, best filled with sand, and you butt it out in the sand or alternatively water."

Disaster volunteers with the Canadian Red Cross have arranged emergency lodging for a family of three from one unit. The organization says 17 other residents will be staying with family or friends.

The Red Cross is also assisting the residents with emergency purchases, such as food, clothing, and other essentials.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Allan April.