It does happen. I interviewed a young man (23) who had recently been dumped
by his girlfriend. He said that was why he poured gasoline all over the
inside of his car and then lit it on fire.
If he had barricaded himself in, like this other guy did, to the point where
he couldn't dismantle the props, he too would have died.
This fellow had skin dripping from his face by the folds, but I believe he
did survive. Another 30-60 would have definitely finished him off.
This guy barricaded himself in pretty good, but maybe he was off so much
mentally that he was kind of immune to the pain, too. Just as some people,
when they snap, develop almost super human strength.
MM
PS He also has a history of being a "torch," but who knows, this guy might
have been picked out to be tortured to rule out any such suspicion.