Damage to the three-bedroom home at 84-461 Makaha Valley Road is estimated at $180,000 for the structure and $20,000 for the contents.

The 5 p.m. fire left seven people homeless.

Witnesses saw the man get a gasoline container from a boat parked outside the house shortly before hearing an explosion, police said. The man came out of the house with his pants on fire and drove off in a truck. The man was found at the Wai'anae Coast Comprehensive Health Center with burns to his legs. He was later taken to Straub Clinic & Hospital.

Because of his injuries, police have not yet made an arrest.

No other injuries were reported from the fire.

Fire Department spokesman Capt. Emmit Kane said the injured man and a woman, 44, were alone in house before the fire. Neighbors said they had heard the couple arguing throughout the day.

Police said the man was in the process of moving out of the house.

As evening approached, the man left the house and then returned carrying two large red plastic containers of the type used to store gasoline, said Kane. The woman left.

The man took the containers into the house and a few moments later neighbors heard an explosion.

Firefighters brought the fire under control within 11 minutes.

Among those displaced by the fire were two children and a pregnant woman, who said she had just completed stocking up on nursery items for the baby.

Four other houses on the lot were without utilities after the fire, Kane said.

The Red Cross was assisting the victims last night.