WESTMINSTER — A student who set himself on fire in the cafeteria at Standley Lake High School on Monday morning is in critical condition at a local hospital.

The boy suffered burns over 80 percent of his body, Westminster Fire Department spokeswoman Diana Wilson said.

According to police, the boy entered the school around 7:15 a.m. and set himself on fire. There were 60 to 70 other students in the cafeteria at the time. None of them was injured, Jeffco Public Schools spokeswoman Lynn Setzer said.

A cafeteria worker suffered a minor injury when she broke glass to get at a fire extinguisher, Westminster police spokeswoman Cheri Spottke said.

A male custodian used the extinguisher to douse the flames before firefighters arrived at the school.

The boy’s name has not been released.

Kian Karp, 14, a freshman, was at his locker in a commons area near the cafeteria when he heard screaming and saw what he thought was a big ball of fire. He focused on the flames.

“I could see the kid in the flames,” Karp said. “He was standing and it was almost like he was dancing around in the fire.”

Karp said he did not recognize the victim.

Freshman Jack DeWitt said he was on his way to art class when he caught a glimpse of fire. “I was like, ‘OK, that’s unusual.’ ”

When DeWitt took a second look, he saw flames shooting to the ceiling of the cafeteria.

“Kids started freaking out” and raced away from the cafeteria, DeWitt said.

On the way out, they saw a janitor and reported the fire.

The school was evacuated and students were sent home for the day.

Standley Lake High will reopen briefly Tuesday to allow students to pick up any belongings they left behind. Counselors will be available at the school all day Tuesday.

Setzer said it has not been determined when classes will resume.