COQUITLAM - Two people are recovering in hospital after a fire broke out in a townhouse complex in Coquitlam Saturday afternoon.

Fire crews were called to the building in the 3100 block of Ozada Avenue near the city centre just before 2 p.m. to a report of a fire.When crews arrived, one unit was fully involved with flames on the second and third floor. The two-alarm fire was quickly put out, but two residents were taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.

One unit suffered extensive fire damage, while another two units received water damage. "This is an older complex, it's very solidly built and the construction helped us contain it to the one unit," said Coquitlam Fire & Rescue assistant chief Scott Mackenzie.Traffic was shut down along Pipeline Road and Guilford Way for several hours while crews dealt with fire.

The cause of the blaze is still being investigated, but residents in three units were expected to be out of their homes for at least the night.Desiree Demchuck lives above the unit that caught fire. She had just returned home from a birthday party when she noticed the streets were blocked off and flames coming from the building.

"There were really bad flames coming out of the window," Demchuck told The NOW."I was like 'Oh my god, it's right beside me.'

"After an anxious wait, fire crews eventually told Demchuck her unit had water damage and she wouldn't be allowed back into her place for at least the night.Her TV and some of her furniture were also destroyed. Though Demchuck was told the blaze was started by lit candles, the fire department wouldn't confirm the story.

She also heard the people in the unit where the fire began had just moved into the building that day.Crews were expected to be at the building for several hours mopping up the scene.