A man is in a critical condition with burns to 90% of his body after setting himself on fire in a Perth immigration detention centre.



Emergency services were called to the Yongah Hill detention centre, 100km east of Perth, shortly after 10pm Tuesday night.

Sources have told Guardian Australia the man may have wrapped himself in a bedsheet before dousing himself in an unknown accelerant and setting himself on fire.

He was taken by helicopter to the Fiona Stanley hospital in Perth, where doctors are working to save his life.

Two staff at the centre also received minor injuries helping the man.

Conditions at Yongah Hill immigration detention centre have been under significant scrutiny in recent months, particularly over the mixing of detainee populations of asylum seekers facing removal with visa holders being deported for committing violent crimes.

A 27-year-old Afghan asylum seeker died at Yongah Hill last month, three weeks after being attacked during a brawl that involved up to 50 detainees, and in which five guards were injured.

Police are investigating the death of Mohammad Nasim Najafi, but a department statement said there was “no indication of suicide or suspicious circumstances”.

An immigration department spokeswoman confirmed “an incident involving a detainee” overnight, and said: “this person and two detention service providers who rendered assistance are receiving appropriate medical care. It is not appropriate to comment further at this time.”