A Perth woman was left fighting for her life with burns to 30 per cent of her body after a man allegedly set her alight and then threw a firebomb into a house in Perth's east overnight.
Police have charged a 51-year-old man from Wandina with grievous bodily harm and criminal damage by fire after the suspected arson attack.
WA Police allege about 8:50pm yesterday the man went to the home on Hooley Road in Midvale, where he threw burning material over the 52-year-old woman.
He then threw an "incendiary device" into the home on his way out.
The woman suffered burns to her head, neck and throat and is currently in a critical but stable condition in Fiona Stanley Hospital.
A man who was also in the house suffered minor injuries in the fire.
Neighbour felt 'explosion'
A neighbour heard the woman's screams and rushed over, to be confronted by the house on fire, the badly burned victim and another person still inside the house.
Robert Shane Caverley said he was sitting in his lounge room when he felt the whole house shake from an "explosion".
"I've come to the door and seen a man with another Molotov cocktail in his hand," Mr Caverley said.
"He threw that, and then he walked off.
"I ran out to see if she was OK and she was pretty badly burnt.
"I asked her if anyone else was in the house and the whole house was engulfed in fire, and she said 'yeah Chris is in the house'.
"So I ran through the flames and found Chris, brought him out."
Mr Caverley said he put a wet towel over the injured woman and then ran back to the house, where flames were pouring out the windows, to turn off the gas mains.
Another neighbour also reported hearing an explosion and when her daughters rushed outside they saw the injured woman lying down on the ground.
Suspected attacker charged
Police arrested a man and took him to Fiona Stanley Hospital for treatment of serious burns to his hands.
He remains in hospital and has been charged with intent to do grievous bodily harm and criminal damage by fire.
A bedside hearing will take place today, WA Police said.
The damage to the home and contents is estimated at $150,000.
