Alleged arsonists accidentally set themselves alight in Port Pirie, SA

An attempted arson has gone terribly wrong after the would-be perpetrators accidentally set themselves on fire as they attempted to flee the scene.

Security camera footage shows the ridiculous moment a group of would-be arsonists accidentally set their getaway vehicle on fire.

South Australia Police have released the footage from a residence in Port Pirie, 200km north of Adelaide, showing a car pulling up alongside a fenced-off building at night.

A man hops out of the vehicle, which remains idle, and begins to douse the area in liquid.

One of the would-be arsonists can be seen here dousing the property in accelerant as the getaway car idles alongside him. Picture: Supplied

“As seen in the footage, three male suspects had attended an address in Young Street and doused the front of the residence with accelerant,” SA Police said in a statement.

The man can be seen emptying some form of container onto the residence in the suburb of Solomontown, with liquid spilling onto the footpath.

Before he returns to the car, he grabs another container and repeats the process.

The inside of the vehicle bursts into flame. Picture: Supplied

Footage shows the inside of the vehicle become engulfed in flames as it begins to roll forward, before three perpetrators can be seen spilling out of the vehicle on both sides.

SA Police said the men then “ran off, abandoning the car in the street”.

“It is extremely likely they have suffered significant burns or injuries in the fire and police urge them to seek medical attention,” Police said.

Perpetrators flee the vehicle as it rolls driverless down the street and flames spit out of the doors. Picture: Supplied

“Anyone with information about the identity or location of anyone involved in this incident is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers immediately.”

When officers arrived at the scene, they discovered the vehicle on fire and another fire burning at the front of a nearby home.

Both fires were extinguished with a fire extinguisher.

Police said the occupants of the house were not injured, although the outside of the house had been charred by flames.