Arsonist almost goes up in flames with gym he targeted

A bungling arsonist has succeeded in torching a gym in Canada but almost set himself on fire when he lit up a room doused in accelerant.

Edge Fitness in Ontario went up in flames shortly after midnight last Thursday with the gym's cameras catching the culprit in the act, 570 News reports.

The CCTV footage shows the hooded arsonist emptying at least one bottle of flammable liquid into two rooms near the gym's entrance.

The criminal then lights up an unidentified object and tosses it into one of the rooms.

The scale of the explosion appears to have taken the fire bug by surprise with the room exploding in fire.

Some of the flames even reach the arsonist who races for the door, leaving his bag behind.

Police said the suspect may have been injured.

The gym was damaged extensively and the building housing it may have suffered structural damage.

The police investigation remains ongoing.