A house fire killed a 66-year-old grandfather in Flatlands.

Police say they responded to the fire on East 40th Street after 6:30 p.m. on June 18.

Patrick Kirton and his 86-year-old mother were inside at the time of the fire.

While his mother was able to get out, family tells News 12 neighbors tried to rescue Patrick and couldn't get to him because there was too much smoke.

By the time firefighters had gotten to him, he was taken to the hospital in critical condition, where he died, according to his family.

His sister, Janice Kirton, says he meant the world to her.

"He was a great guy. Growing up, since him and I were the youngest, we were really the closest," she says. "I was in my closet, in a ball. I think, honestly, even though they were saying 'it didn't look good' in my heart, I didn't accept it."

Kirton tells News 12 he was retired after working for more than 35 years at the New York City Transit Authority and had plans to travel back to Barbados, where he was from.

Charred walls and broken glass now surrounds the house that she and her brother grew up in. She says the condition of the house is currently unlivable for their mother.