A man is in hospital with serious injuries after trying to extinguish a fire in the basement of his east Mountain home.

Emergency crews were called to 4 East 44th Street just before 1 p.m. Sunday. The homeowner was sitting in the driveway when the first crew arrived, said Dave Cunliffe, chief of Hamilton Fire. By the time the second truck arrived, the man had no vital signs.

Firefighters and paramedics revived him on scene, Cunliffe said, and the man is in hospital now.

There were five people in the house altogether, said Staff Sgt. John Pauls of the Hamilton Police Service. Another person received minor injures.

The fire started and was contained to the basement, Cunliffe said. Firefighters quickly extinguished it.

Cunliffe said the injured man appeared to be trying to put it out himself.

"If you detect a fire in your house, please exit the house and call 9-1-1," he said.

The Office of the Ontario Fire Marshal is en route to investigate.