Tasered Aussie catches fire

A man caught fire after police used a Taser on him as they responded to reports of petrol sniffing in a remote desert community in Western Australia.

Ronald Mitchell, 36, was airlifted to Royal Perth Hospital for burns treatment following a confrontation with police who were called to a house in Warburton, 1540km northeast of Perth on Monday.

A known petrol sniffer in the Aboriginal community, Mitchell ran from the house at the officers carrying a container believed to contain fuel and a cigarette lighter, police said.

He was asked to stop but continued running toward the officers.

"An officer then deployed his Taser," police spokeswoman Susan Usher said.

"The man caught alight and the officer immediately went to the man's aid, putting him on the ground and smothering the fire with his bare hands."

The policeman was struck on the head by rocks thrown by an 18-year-old woman while trying to help the man, Ms Usher said.

The officer also received moderate burns to his hands from putting out the fire.

Mitchell sustained third degree burns to 10 percent of his body and was airlifted to Royal Perth Hospital for burns treatment, police spokesman Graham Clifford said.

He has been charged with assault to prevent arrest and possession of a sniffing substance, Sgt Clifford said.

The 18-year-old woman was charged with two counts of assaulting a public officer.

Two other people at the house were also charged with possessing a sniffing substance.

Ms Usher said the matter was under investigation to determine the full circumstances of the incident.

- AAP