MOULTRIE — A Moultrie mechanic was severely burned when a vacuum he was using to remove gasoline caught on fire Monday night.

Celious White, 34, of 720 Fourth Ave. S.W., was taken to Colquitt Regional Medical Center for burns to both his arms, his mouth and his nose. He was transferred to the Joseph Still Burn Center in Augusta, but his condition there was not known Tuesday evening.

The Moultrie Fire Department was called to a car on fire that was threatening a structure on Fourth Avenue Southwest at 8:03 p.m. Monday. When firefighters arrived, they found a vacuum on fire that was near a Chevrolet Tahoe. The vehicle was parked in the back yard and was near a shop area.

The fire was brought under control at 8:12 p.m.

White stated he was replacing a fuel pump on the Tahoe and was removing gasoline with the vacuum when it caught fire. The fire damaged the vehicle’s rear driver’s side and a tail light.