Authorities say three of the residents are Temple University students and two are young children.
The fire happened around 11:00 p.m. Friday in the the 2100 block of North 17th Street.
Officials say the fire started in one row home, but before firefighters could contain the blaze, it spread to two adjoining homes.
One man was transported to the hospital with an ankle injury.
Investigators suspect a hot plate may have sparked the fire.
