Police are hunting for Dear who has been branded extremely dangerous

The victim, 41, treated at scene for severe burns but later died in hospital

Witnesses describe horrific moment she ran from home engulfed in flames

Police say row escalated and he doused her in gasoline and set her alight

Clarence Duwell Dear, 51, has been branded 'dangerous' by police after the shocking incident in Pomona on Friday

A police manhunt is underway for a California man who murdered a woman by dousing her in gasoline and setting her alight on Christmas Day.

Clarence Duwell Dear, 51, has been branded 'dangerous' by police after the shocking incident in Pomona on Friday.

Witnesses described the horrific moment they saw the woman, 41, flee from a house in the 1500 block of Cordova Street engulfed in flames.

Neighbors rushed to try and help her as she collapsed outside and remained with the victim until Los Angeles County fire crews arrived.

She was treated at the scene for severe burns before being transported to a local hospital where she later died.

The victim has not yet been formally identified.

Deputies believe that Dear had got into a suspected domestic dispute with his victim shortly before 1.40pm.

The 'heated argument' then escalated to physical violence and the 51-year-old had chased the woman from the house and doused her in gasoline, say Pomona Police Department.

It is thought that he used a lit cigarette to then set her ablaze.

A wanted poster released by police shows two mugshot photos of Dear taken during a previous arrest in 2012.

A wanted poster released by police shows two mugshot photos of Dear taken during a previous arrest in 2012

Witnesses described the horrific moment they saw the woman, 41, flee from a house in the 1500 block of Cordova Street engulfed in flames

He is decribed as black, 5-foot-10 inches tall, weighing 170 pounds, with black and grey hair, and brown eyes.

Is is not clear whether Dear, who has not been seen since the attack, is armed.