Two deaths and 60 burn injuries have been linked to tabletop fire pits that burn alcohol, liquid ethanol, or other fuels.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Tabletop Fire Pit Burn Injury cases in all 50 states. If you were burned by a tabletop fire pit that burns liquid alcohol or ethanol, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Product Liability Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
CPSC Warning: Stop Using Dangerous Tabletop Fire Pits and Fireplaces
In December 2024, safety officials warned people to Stop Using Alcohol or Other Liquid-Burning Fire Pits due to the risk of burn injuries:
“These fire pits are extremely dangerous and have been associated with two deaths and at least 60 injuries since 2019,” according to the warning.
What Are Tabletop Fire Pits?
Tabletop Fire Pits are small fireplaces that burn alcohol or ethanol. The fuel is usually liquid isopropyl alcohol (commonly called “rubbing alcohol”), ethanol, or bio-ethanol, which produces a smokeless flame.
These products are linked to serious burn hazards, such as:
- Alcohol flames can be invisible and lead to flame jetting when refilling the fire pit reservoir.
- Alcohol can also splash, spill or leak out of the fire pit reservoir during use, causing a flash fire that can spread and create larger hotter flames, that can escape the unit.
- Use of the recalled fire pits can lead to injury quickly and unexpectedly, causing burns in less than one second, that can be serious and deadly.
Burn Hazards Linked to All Types of Liquid-Burning Fire Pits
Alcohol is the most common type of liquid fuel for tabletop fire pits, but all types of liquid fuel-burning fire pits (such as ethanol and bioethanol) have been linked to “extreme dangers,” and the safety hazard is not limited to a single product.
“The hazards are widespread across the entire product category,” according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
FLICKRFIRE Tabletop Fireplaces Linked to 2 Deaths
In December 2024, safety officials warned people to stop using Alcohol-Fueled FLICKRFIRE Tabletop Fireplaces after 2 deaths and serious burn injuries were reported.
In June 2024, flame-jetting contributed to the death of an elderly couple who were severely burned when a third person tried to refill a FLICKRFIRE Tabletop Fireplace that appeared to be extinguished.
At least 3 other incidents “resulted in 3rd or 4th degree burns to extensive areas of consumers’ bodies,” according to the warning:
“Using alcohol-fueled FLIKRFIRE Tabletop Fireplaces can cause uncontrollable pool fires in which flames burn across the surface of pooled or spilled alcohol, as well as flame jetting from fuel containers, resulting in serious or fatal burns.”
The manufacturer is no longer in business, but FLIKRFIRE Tabletop Fireplaces were sold on Amazon.com and other websites from 2018 through 2024, according to the safety warning.
Nearly 90,000 Colsen Fire Pits Recalled After 19 Burn Injuries Reported
In October 2024, Colsen Fire Pits LLC announced a recall for about 89,500 tabletop fire pits after people suffered 3rd-degree burn injuries with severe complications.
The recall involves Colsen® indoor/outdoor tabletop fire pits that burn liquid isopropyl alcohol inside an open container made out of concrete.
There were 31 reports of flame-jetting and flames escaping from the concrete container, resulting in 19 burn injuries. Two people suffered 3rd-degree burns to more than 40% of their bodies. At least 6 incidents also involved severe complications from burns, such as:
- Surgery
- Prolonged medical treatment
- Admission to burn treatment facilities
- Short-term disability
- Loss of function
- Disfigurement
- Scarring
What is the Problem?
Fire pits that burn alcohol and other liquid-fuels are “extremely dangerous,” according to safety officials. Alcohol burns with flame temperatures over 1,600ºF, which is hot enough to cause severe 3rd-degree burns (full skin-thickness) in less than 1 second. The flame may also be invisible or hard to see, which increases the risk of burns.
Burning Pooled-Alcohol Fire Pits: “Extremely Dangerous”
Tabletop fire pits are designed to produce a flame that comes out of an open container, like a bowl or a pot, that is filled with liquid fuels such as isopropyl alcohol or ethanol. These pooled-alcohol fire pits are extremely dangerous for many reasons.
Why Is It So Dangerous?
Lighting a pool of liquid alcohol or ethanol on fire is extremely dangerous because it creates an uncontrollable fire. The pool of liquid fuel can suddenly produce larger, hotter flames that spread beyond the fire pit’s open container — or shatter the container and spill the liquid fuel, spreading flames onto any objects or people nearby.
You may not be able to extinguish the flames until all of the fuel burns off, which is why some tabletop fire pits are sold along with their own fire extinguisher.
Flame-Jetting and Explosion Fire Hazards
Flame-jetting is a life-threatening safety hazards of tabletop fire pits. It is most likely to occur when people try to add more fuel to the fire pit. According to the CPSC:
“Flame jetting is a sudden and possibly violent flash fire that can occur when pouring flammable liquids from a container over an exposed flame or other ignition source.”
What Causes Flame-Jetting?
As people try to pour the fuel out of the container and into the fire pit’s open bowl, they may be knowingly (or accidentally) pouring the fuel above an exposed flame. The flame may be invisible or hard to see.
Flame-jetting occurs when the flame from the fire pit suddenly ignites the liquid fuel as it is being poured out of the container. The container can shoot out a jet of flammable gases and liquid fuel that travels surprisingly far distances, instantly causing 3rd-degree burn injuries.
VIDEO: How Dangerous Is Flame-Jetting?
Here is a video showing what can happen, showing the long distances that flame-jetting and burning liquid can travel:
Other Names for Tabletop Fire Pits & Fireplaces
Tabletop fire pits are advertised as decorative novelty fireplaces for indoor or outdoor use. They can be made of concrete or glass and come in many shapes and sizes, like rectangles, bowls, or pots.
Tabletop fire pits may also be advertised as:
- Fire pots
- Fire bowls
- Miniature fireplaces
- Bio-ethanol fireplaces
- Desktop fireplaces
- Mini fire pits
- Portable indoor/outdoor fire pits
- Marshmallow roasters
- S’more makers
- Personal fireplaces
Where Are They Sold?
Tabletop fire pits are manufactured by a variety of companies, many overseas in China. Tens of thousands have been sold on Amazon.com and stores like Lowe’s, Home Depot, Target, Walmart, and more.
Tabletop Fire Pits: List of Products Sold Online & Stores
Here are a few examples of tabletop fire pit products and brand-names that have been sold nationwide, including (but not limited to):
- Amazon.com sellers (AIKAMI, LIDVN, KUZKUZY Store, KORNIFUL Store, ABXMAS Store, OKBA Store, Ciekope, and many more)
- Brookstone
- Colsen
- Cuisinart
- Danya B
- East Flame
- Flammtal
- FLICKRFIRE
- Housewise
- Kizzby
- Lovinflame
- Moda Flame
- Northwest
- Pure Garden
- Roundfire
- Rozato
- Sharper Image
- Solo Stove
- Skypatio Tornado Flame Tabletop Fire Pit
- TerraFlame
- Vesper
- And more
Real Flame Recalls Pourable Gel Fuel
In 2011, Real Flame announced a recall for about 100,000 bottles of pourable gel fuel due to a risk of burn injuries and flash fires. The product came in plastic bottles that were intended to be poured into a steel cup in the middle of a decorative firepots or bowl, and then ignited.
According to the recall warning:
“The pourable gel fuel can ignite unexpectedly and splatter onto people and objects nearby when it is poured into a firepot that is still burning. This hazard can occur if the consumer does not see the flame or is not aware that the firepot is still ignited. Gel fuel that splatters and ignites can pose fire and burn risks to consumers that can be fatal.”
Do I Have a Tabletop Fire Pit Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Tabletop Fire Pit Burn Injury cases in all 50 states. If you were burned by a tabletop fire pit that burns liquid alcohol or ethanol, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Product Liability Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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