More than 50 firefighters worked quick shifts on a hot Thursday evening to put out a blaze that spread to three condo townhouses in the Ottawa neighbourhood of Beacon Hill.

Three units on Eastvale Avenue, where five people lived, were damaged in the blaze. In total, 14 people were displaced from their homes before the hydro could be restored.

Ottawa fire department spokesman Marc Messier said the fire is believed to have started when a barbecue in the courtyard between the three units set fire to the vinyl siding of the building.

The unit with the siding that caught fire was completely gutted by the blaze, and two other units suffered heavy damage.

Damage estimated at $650,000

The estimated damage to all three units was $650,000.

The already hot conditions led firefighters to call in extra support, and a blaze that would normally be handled by 25 firefighters was dealt with by more than twice that number.

Paramedics set up a command post at the scene and firefighters visited between shifts to ensure they weren't overheating.