A fire early yesterday caused considerable damage to three 750-square-foot townhouses in Puhi, Kaua'i.

A 56-year-old man was treated for minor injuries.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

Officials estimated total damage to the units and their contents to be $300,000.

The fire started in a second-floor unit of Halenani Village fronting Hanalima Road at around 12:26 a.m. Two women and a 56-year-old man who live in the unit fled to an adjacent townhouse, where neighbors had set up a ladder and helped them climb down.

The man was taken to Wilcox Hospital, treated for burns on his left arm and released. The women escaped unharmed.

Engine 3, Rescue 3, Engine 5, Battalion Chief 1 and Prevention 2 and 3 responded to the fire.

The fire was deemed under control at 1 a.m. and extinguished at 2:57 a.m.

According to a preliminary report, the townhouse where the fire originated was heavily damaged and an adjacent unit was sustained as well; the unit below received water and heat damage in the fire.

The fire also caused extensive damage to the exterior of the building.