A man set fire to his own house in Muang district of Sakon Nakhon before fleeing on a motorcycle yesterday, police said.
The fire broke out shortly after midnight at the one-storey, two-bedroom house at a lemon farm in Soi Serithai 11 of Kham Sa-art Community in tambon That Choeng Chumwhich, police said.
Firefighters managed to bring the fire under control in 30 minutes, but the inside of the house was gutted. Nobody was hurt.
The house belongs to Pairat Saengsida, 51, and his wife Pitsamai. A neighbour told police that Mr Pairat frequently argued with his wife and often destroyed things in the house in fits of rage. As a result, Ms Pitsamai went to work in another province about a month ago.
The neighbour said Mr Pairat, who appeared drunk, came to him in the night with the key to the house, saying he had set fire to it, and told him to call the police. He then drove away on a motorcycle.