A man has been placed in emergency protective custody after authorities say he attempted suicide by setting himself on fire.

At around 1:35 p.m., on July 6, deputies with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office were called to the Outlet Campground at Lake Maloney, south of North Platte.

According to Chief Deputy Roland Kramer, it was reported that a male subject at the campground had been threatening to harm himself.

Deputies arrived and discovered that the man had just poured gasoline on himself.

Kramer said the man positioned himself at the end of a long boat dock in the southwest area of the campground and produced a lighter. He refused to converse with the deputies who were attempting to negotiate with him.

As deputies continued to talk to him, he began attempting to light himself on fire and was eventually successful.

Deputies sprang into action and were able to get the fire put out before the man sustained serious injuries, but Kramer said he was extremely combative and resisted efforts to subdue him.

The man was eventually placed in protective custody and transported to Great Plains Health.

Drugs and alcohol do not appear to be a factor, according to Kramer.

The man’s name was not released.