NAKHON PHANOM: A man believed to be high on drugs was badly burned after setting fire to his own house in Na Kae district on Sunday morning, police said.

Firefighters from Nong Sang and Na Kae districts were dispatched to the two-storey house at Kham Mek village after being informed of the fire, which broke out at about 2.30am.

When the firefighters arrived, the wooden house was already in flames.

While spraying water to douse the fire, the firefighters found a man with severe burns lying unconscious on the ground floor out of the house. The man was later identified as Khunthueng Nuengkhammee, 48, the owner of the house.

The firefighters were able to put out the fire in about 30 minutes.

Police learned from an initial investigation that Mr Khunthueng had been addicted to alcohol and drugs. It was believed he set fire to his own house after getting high on drugs, since he had tried many times before to burn the house but the neighbours managed to put out the fires.

This time, the neighbours were not able to stop the fire in time as it happened late at night.

A few years ago, Mr Khunthueng had a motorcycle accident and became disabled. After that he became addicted to alcohol and drugs. He was taken to hospital many times for rehabilitation, but to no avail.

Mr Khunthueng has been detained by police for legal action.