ST CATHERINE, Jamaica – Police are searching for a man following an arson attack targetting his estranged spouse at her home at Dover in Redwood district, Linstead, St Catherine, on Thursday morning.

The attack resulted in severe burns to the woman and several torched furniture.

The partially damaged house, a three-bedroom concrete-structured unfinished dwelling, is reportedly owned by the suspect’s sister, the police said.

It was reported that around 3:15 am, the woman, who has an estranged relationship with the suspect, was asleep with another man in a room on the upstairs section of the house. Police said the man awoke when he felt a presence over him, after which he smelled gasoline and saw someone striking a match, which was thrown at the woman in the bed beside him.

The woman became engulfed in flames, the police said, and the alleged arsonist ran from the house.

The man, who got a minor burn on his left thigh, managed to run from the room, however, the woman received burns to the upper half of her body.

She was assisted to the Linstead Hospital and later transferred to another facility for further treatment, the police said.

It was reported that one double bed, one bedside lamp and other personal properties were destroyed during the blaze. Residents of the area extinguished the fire.

The value of the properties which were destroyed is not yet ascertained.