A man was seriously burned and seven people were displaced from their homes yesterday morning when fire destroyed two units and damaged a third at a townhouse complex in Kapolei.

A lit cigarette butt discarded into a wastebasket started the fire at 91-1075 Namahoe Place in the A'eloa subdivision, fire department spokesman Capt. Terry Seeling said.

Emergency Medical Services spokesman Bryan Cheplic said a 25-year-old man was trying to douse the flames when he suffered first- and second-degree burns to his shoulder and chest. He was taken to Kaiser Moanalua Medical Center.