A 65-year-old man using a shop vacuum to remove fuel from a power generator started a fire that destroyed his home in Kula today, Maui firefighters said.

The man was removing the fuel from the generator outside his home on Keanuhea Place in Keokea about 8:10 a.m. when the fuel ignited and the fire spread to the rest of his home, said a Maui Fire Department spokesman.

The man’s wife was not home at the time, and the man escaped with minor injuries.

The 1,200-square foot, one-story home was destroyed and damage was estimated at $225,000 to the structure, its contents, and a vehicle parked outside the home.

Maui firefighters urged homeowners to exercise caution when using portable power generators around their homes.

There have been several instances where portable generators being used to power homes started destructive house fires on Maui, firefighters said.