A Hobart man has been charged with setting his girlfriend alight, leaving her in a critical condition.

A 20-year-old woman was flown to The Alfred hospital in Melbourne late on Monday and is in a critical condition after being burnt in a fire in a shed at a home in the Hobart suburb of Chigwell.

She sustained burns to more than half her body in the fire.

A 34-year-old Chigwell man was charged on Tuesday night with causing grievous bodily harm and three counts of assault.

Tasmania Police allege he doused his girlfriend in a flammable liquid and ignited it during a dispute.

“The dispute is being treated as a family violence incident, although there are no current family violence orders restricting the man and woman from being together,” a police statement said on Wednesday.

“The family of the young woman will be provided with counselling support and other assistance.”

Detective Inspector Craig Joel thanked members of the Chigwell community for their help in the investigation.

The man also suffered burns to his body and was being treated in the Royal Hobart Hospital.

He will appear in the Hobart Court of Petty Sessions on Wednesday.

National domestic violence helpline: 1800 737 732 or 1800RESPECT. In an emergency call triple-zero.