Two young children and their families escaped a fast-moving fire that spread to three east Hamilton homes in the Crown Point West neighbourhood Sunday afternoon.

Caitlyn Blake, who lives at 150 Belmont Ave., smelled smoke coming from her neighbour's home so she knocked on their door and woke them, according to her father-in-law Russ Sharp.

"She just smelled something in the house. She let the neighbours know the house was on fire," he said while waiting to be allowed past the police tape to get to his daughter-in-law.

The family in that house (148 Belmont) — which included parents and a toddler — was asleep and unaware their two-storey home was on fire. Though they had working smoke detectors, according to Hamilton Fire Department spokesperson Claudio Mostacci, the blaze hadn't triggered the alarms. He says "careless disposal of smoking material" appears to be the cause of the fire, which started outdoors at the back of the house.

The family managed to escape unharmed, but were checked by EMS as a precaution. By the time firefighters arrived, just after noon in 10 firetrucks, flames were shooting out the windows. The house is destroyed, according to Mostacci.

Blake and her own 15-month-old son and her boyfriend fled to a neighbour's home for shelter. Their home is also seriously damaged by fire, smoke and water. Its roof is partially collapsed. They cannot stay there.

Both families that have been left homeless have been offered places to stay, says Mostacci.

At 146 Belmont Ave. the siding melted off the side of the house with the heat of the blaze next door. There is some smoke damage inside. Two adults live there.

A total of $700,000 damage was done to the three homes, according to Mostacci.

Homes on that block sit very close together.

One firefighter was taken to hospital, treated and released, after falling down a flight of stairs.

At the fire's peak there were 10 firefighting units there with between 35 and 40 firefighters. Extra units were called so firefighters could get breaks while working in the afternoon's extreme heat.

Severe damage to two homes after working fire on Belmont Ave @HamiltonFireDep #hamont pic.twitter.com/CgFapyPJdb

EMS tells me 2 houses involved, no injuries. #HamOnt pic.twitter.com/OG62mXU62K

Just learned EMS not issued breathing masks. #HamOnt

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@HamiltonFireDep climbing to 2nd storey of 1 of 2 houses on fire. #HamOnt pic.twitter.com/v34IKSkRa9

— Susan Clairmont (@susanclairmont) August 28, 2016