A Laurinburg teenager who caught himself on fire in a failed theft attempt over the weekend will be charged for the blaze, according to Laurinburg police.

Warrants were issued on 17-year-old Anthony Trey Lane, of Sugar Road, on charges of burning a building and larceny, according to Captain Kim Monroe. Lane remains at the North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center at Chapel Hill for third-degree burns to his face, elbows and legs after the Sunday morning blaze.

Monroe said Lane is expected to return home within the next week, when officers will officially charge the 17-year-old.

Police believe Lane was attempting to remove copper wiring from a heating and air conditioning unit at 1500 Stewartsville Road when he severed a gas line. The result was an explosion that set the house on fire and injured Lane.

Lane was taken to Scotland Memorial Hospital by EMS and was airlifted to Chapel Hill's burn unit for treatment.

No one else was injured in the fire that gutted the vacant home.

Laurinburg, Wagram and Stewartsville fire departments responded with seven trucks and 30 firemen. The Scotland Rescue Squad and Scotland Emergency Medical Services also responded to the incident.

Laurinburg fire officials estimated damages at $130,000.