‘Left for dead’: Alleged arsonist set alight as Melbourne tobacco shop is torched

WARNING: Some people may find details in this story confronting.

An alleged arsonist is fighting for life after accidentally setting himself on fire while torching a tobacco shop in Melbourne’s west.

His associate left him for dead in the Melton car park after the attack, which police believe is linked to organised crime.

The alleged attack quickly backfired. A ute was rammed into the high street business just before 3am, with CCTV capturing two hooded men getting out with jerry cans in hand before dousing it with fuel.

That's when their plan exploded in their faces.

“It was a big like explosion,” one witness told 9News. "I thought bomb straight away."

One man is seen rolling on the ground, desperately trying to put out the flames.

While still on fire he managed to get back into the ute but fell out of the moving vehicle seconds later.

The driver stuck around for a few minutes before leaving his accomplice behind.

“His so-called mate left him for dead,” arson and explosives squad’s Chris Murray said.

"No care, not concern, matter of saving his own skin."

Locals heard the man's screams and rushed to help.

"I could see he was going in shock you know gave him a drink," one of those first on the scene told 9News.

The 23-year-old was flown to the Alfred Hospital with critical injuries as firefighters worked to bring the intense flames under control.

Detectives spent hours combing the scene on Thursday, focusing their attention on charred clothes in the car park.

"I'm confident it's linked to organised crime," Murray said.

"There's clearly a reason that this has occurred, be that standover, be that retribution, be that revenge, be it power play."

The ute used in the attack was dumped and torched about six kilometres away, on the Western Highway. Police have now taken it for forensic testing.

The injured 23-year-old remains in a critical condition with burns to his upper and lower body.

Police also believe the second arsonist would have suffered significant burns to their hands and feet in the incident.

He's still on the run and police are urging them to hand themselves in.

"I just find it incredible that these youth are putting their hand up to do these jobs," Murray said.

"It, you know, they're ruining their lives, they're ruining their families' lives."

Police are also looking for the driver of a silver ute who was near the shop at the time of the incident.