An 88-year-old man was taken in critical condition to a hospital early Friday after a fire broke out at his Waipahu home.

At 5:52 a.m. 31 firefighters responded to a two-alarm fire at the single-story residential home on Kipou Street. They observed smoke and flames emanating from the Ewa side of the home, according to Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Capt. David Jenkins.

Neighbors informed firefighters the resident was still inside the home. Firefighters located the man inside his living room, trying to escape the fire.

They brought him outside and treated him. Honolulu Fire Battalion Chief John Pacheco said the man was breathing and conscious at the time but was transported to the hospital by Emergency Medical Services in critical condition.

The blaze was extinguished at 6:24 a.m. Pacheco said the fire was confined to the living room. It’s believed the fire started at a corner of the room.

The cause of the fire and damage estimate to the home have yet to be determined.

Neighbor Madelyn Guieb said she heard her dog barking incessantly and peered outside her window. She saw smoke emanating from her neighbor’s living room window and flames inside.

She woke up her husband, who jumped out of bed after she alerted him of the fire next door. He grabbed the garden hose and shot water toward the window in an attempt to control the fire. Meanwhile, Guieb called 911.

She said she often saw her 88-year-old neighbor tending to his plants and front lawn.

“I’m praying he’s going to be OK,” Guieb said.