A man suffers severe burns after reportedly setting himself on fire in Arroyo Grande. Police and Five Cities Fire Authority personnel responded around 12:30 pm Monday and learned that a witness said he smelled what he believed was gasoline coming from the men's public restroom located near Olohan Alley and Short Street. Not long after, a man reported to be approximately 50 years old was spotted running across the swinging bridge on fire before collapsing near a tree. Craig Cornette saw what happened and tells KCOY CBS 12 and the Information Station that "his hat, shirt and pants were on fire. It was just unreal. It did not look real."
Several citizens ran to the aid of the man on fire and because he was burned severely he was going to be airlifted to the Fresno Burn Center for treatment. A small area of vegetation under the bridge was also extinguished by fire crews. The investigation is continuing and an Arroyo Grande Police Department detective and arson investigator have been assigned to the case.