A Darwin man is being treated in hospital for severe burns after he accidentally ignited litres of fuel with a spark from a power drill.

The 29-year-old amateur fisherman was working on his tinnie at his Nightcliff home when the fire started.

Police told the NT News he had filled the bottom of boat with petrol and had been trying to drain it into jerry cans when he began using the drill.

"The man filled the boat up with about 50 litres or so (of petrol), but instead of putting it in the fuel valve he put it through the rod holder," Constable Karen Gossow told the newspaper.

"He soon realised it hadn't gone in the fuel tank but under the hole."

She said he was using the drill to undo some screws to get into the flooring when a spark set the fuel alight.

The man's parents moved him into a shower to cool his burns, drawing praise from paramedics.

Craig Garraway from St John Ambulance says it is important to act fast when helping burns victims.

"The first thing is obviously ring triple-0, get help there as quickly as possible," he said.

"[Then] get someone in and cool their burns as best you can. And hopefully the ambulance will be there very quickly and be able to assist and get the patient to the hospital very quickly."

The man was rushed to the Royal Darwin Hospital and was then flown in a Careflight jet to Melbourne's Alfred Hospital for further treatment.

Acting Superintendent Bob Harrison says the incident is a reminder to Territorians to be careful around flammable substances.

"Any time you're dealing with fuel of any sort - it's a very volatile substance," he said.

"You've got to be so careful when you're dealing with sparks and flames around fuel. You don't know what's going to happen."