Washington ( CNN ) -- Law enforcement and medical personnel rushed to Washington 's National Mall on Friday afternoon to assist a man who reportedly set himself on fire . The man was taken to a hospital and is in critical condition , said Maj. Patrick Smith with U.S. Park Police . Officers rushed to scene after receiving a 911 call and found the man engulfed in flames , according to Smith . Office Hugh Carew , a spokesman for the Metropolitan Police Department , said police will investigate whether the injured man intentionally set himself on fire . Adam Stifel saw part of the incident while he was jogging . `` I saw a man sitting in flames , '' Stifel told CNN . `` He had already doused himself in gasoline , I believe . '' Stifel said five or six people used their shirts to pat out the fire . He said he saw a red gasoline canister near the man . The incident occurred near the National Air and Space Museum . The man was airlifted out to receive medical care . No information was available on the man 's identity or whether he was part of a protest group . The location where the man was found on fire is about six blocks from the U.S. Capitol , where a high speed car chase on Thursday ended with a woman being shot and killed by law enforcement officers . CNN 's Brian Todd and Skip Nocciolo contributed to this report .
Man spotted on fire near famous museum on National Mall . Passers-by attempted to put out the flames . He 's in critical condition .