Police are investigating reports an explosion started a fire that caused extensive damage at a public housing complex in Braddon.
An ACT Policing spokesman said police and fire crews were called to the fire at the Bega Court Flats on Cooyong Street, opposite the Canberra Centre, shortly before 2pm.
Roads are expected to remain closed in the area for some time.
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Three people have been treated by ACT Ambulance Service intensive care paramedics at the scene.
A woman has been taken to Canberra Hospital after she was initially treated for burns to her hands and smoke inhalation.
A man has been treated for smoke inhalation, and has been taken to Calvary Hospital.
Photo: Tom Corra
One other man was assessed at the scene, and did not require hospitalisation.
Police are treating the fire as suspicious, and are calling for witnesses.
Tom Corra was carrying out maintenance work at the Canberra Centre when he first smelt smoke.
“We ran up the road and there were people running everywhere,” he said.
“It was pretty chaotic. Nobody had any idea what to do.”
Mr Corra said there had been dark smoke billowing from one apartment window.
“The flames were pumping out of a main window before it went to two more windows,” he said.
“There was a fair bit of stuff billowing out into the street… The whole area’s sort of shut off now.”
A large crowd of people had gathered to watch the dramatic scenes unfold from the street.
The ESA said the fire was on the second and third floors. It was extinguished about 2.40pm.
"Extensive damage to two units on the second and third floors," the agency said in an update.
"Crews currently conducting ventilation operations."
Four fire pumpers, the breathing apparatus van, the Bronto Skylift Hydraulic Platform, a Command Officer and more than a dozen ACT Policing units were also on the scene.
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