A fireball, then screams of agony: Suspected arsonist engulfed in flames after botched tobacco shop attack

A suspected arsonist is fighting for his life in hospital and a second has been left badly burnt after the firebombing of a tobacco shop in Melbourne’s west.

The two men were engulfed in flames at the Boss Tobacco shop in Melton about 2.50am on Thursday.

CCTV footage shows the premises erupting in flames after apparently being doused in petrol and set alight. A man in a blue hoodie is shown on fire running away from the shop.

A 23-year-old man was found lying on the ground nearby and flown to The Alfred hospital in a critical condition.

Police are hunting for the other man, who they say left the badly injured man behind and is believed to have significant burns to his hands and feet.

The pair’s white ute was found alight on the Western Highway in Hopetoun Park shortly after the incident, having been abandoned by the second man.

Police said that man was then picked up on the side of the road nearby by a Good Samaritan who dropped him off near the Bacchus Marsh Avenue of Honour memorial about 3.30am.

Police said the Good Samaritan had been interviewed and was co-operative.

A witness told 3AW she heard a loud bang and saw a young man on the ground pulling off his pants and screaming in agony.

“Over 50 per cent, I’d say, of his body is burnt,” the woman said. “No skin left on his legs, on his hands.”

Another witness said: “His skin was hanging off and I feel like he had garbage bags – like burnt garbage bags – hanging off him.”

Detective Inspector Chris Murray said the man in hospital could die from his injuries.

“Fire is uncontrollable and unpredictable and we can only be thankful it’s not an innocent member of the public who has been injured,” he said.

If the critically injured man were to die from his injuries, police said, the second man would be held criminally responsible.