A 42-year-old man has been charged after allegedly setting another man on fire in Illawarra region

A man is due in court today after allegedly setting another man on fire, leaving him in a critical condition.

An Illawarra man is due in court after he was charged with allegedly setting another man on fire at the weekend.

Emergency services attended a property at Saddleback Mountain, west of Kiama in the Illawarra region, about 4.20pm on Saturday, following reports a man had sustained serious burns.

Officers attended the Fountaindale Road residence and found a vehicle engulfed in flames and a 51-year-old man nearby with serious burns to his head, chest and face.

The man was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being flown to Royal North Shore Hospital, where he remains in a critical condition.

A crime scene was established and forensically examined.

Lake Illawarra detectives, assisted by State Crime Command’s Arson Unit, have began an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the man’s injuries.

About 9.30am on Sunday, a 42-year-old man was arrested at Saddleback Mountain and taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station.

He was charged with laying an explosive substance with intent to burn/maim/disable/do grievous bodily harm and causing grievous bodily harm to a person with intent.

The man was refused bail and will appear at Wollongong Local Court on Monday.