BY IAN CROUCH

Police have launched a critical incident investigation after a man suffered serious burns during a siege at Gloucester on Tuesday night.

Officers went to a home on Denison Street just before 9.30pm and tried to speak to a 63-year-old man, but it’s alleged he made a number of threats, forcing them to retreat and establish a perimeter around the house.

They then noticed flames coming from the home just before midnight, with the man found inside with burns to 60 per cent of his body when the blaze was put out.

Jamie Yeo from the Hunter’s Westpac Rescue Helicopter says they airlifted the man to hospital.

“They treated a 63-year-old male with quite serious burns sustained form the fire. He was then transported to the Royal North Shore Hospital for specialist treatment,” he said.