Four people, including a disabled elderly woman, are homeless after fire destroyed their Hawaii Kai townhouse yesterday morning.

Capt. Gary Lum, Honolulu Fire Department spokesman, said the two-alarm fire was reported at 6:22 a.m. at the three-bedroom, two-story home. Firefighters arriving on scene at 6:28 a.m. saw flames shooting through the roof of the townhouse.

Fire investigators will resume their investigation today into what caused the fire, which started in the second-floor master bedroom, Lum said.

Lawrence Green, one of four people who live in the townhouse at 327 Kawai­hae St., said he was sleeping on the second floor.

"When I woke up I could smell burning plastic," Green said. "The room was full of smoke.

"I jumped out of the window and landed on the garage roof and then ran (back) into the house."

Green said Joyce Sipe, who owns the unit and is confined to a wheelchair, was sleeping on a lounge chair in the living room. He said he and several neighbors had to carry her out of the unit.

Lum said the fire was brought under control by 6:44 a.m.

Green said he didn’t think he would have been able to reach Sipe by using the stairs in the townhouse because the smoke was so dense.

"It was a very rude awakening … traumatic," Green added as he thumbed through the phone book looking up insurance agents.

Neither the three men nor Sipe were injured. The Red Cross was called to the scene to help the four.

Mike Tierney, who lives in a neighboring townhouse in the four-unit complex, said he was leaving his home when his wife called him.

"I could see smoke all the way from (Kalanianaole Highway) and drove back and moved my other car out of the driveway."

Tierney’s unit suffered extensive water damage, and firefighters had to cut through his attic to get to the fire, which at times threatened his unit. Lum said the unit suffered substantial damage estimated at $485,000 for the structure and contents.