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Are you using a tabletop fire pit, or are you planning to buy one for family gatherings or date nights?
Before I explain why I’m asking this question, take a moment to read this article. It will be useful for you.
Recently, many of you have heard about injuries, explosions, and even deaths related to tabletop fire pits. Behind these incidents, what really happened?
Across the United States, lawsuits are being filed against the makers and sellers of tabletop fire pits. In this blog, let’s see the details of tabletop fire pits, recent recalls, the tabletop fire pit lawsuits, and the latest updates.
What are Tabletop Fire Pits?
Tabletop fire pits are small, decorative, and often marketed as safe ways to bring the warmth and glow of fire into homes, patios, or backyards. These pits are sold widely through Amazon, Walmart, Wayfair, and home and garden retailers. These compact devices promise the ambiance of a fire without the hassle of a traditional fireplace.
Many of these devices use liquid fuels like ethanol or isopropyl alcohol. These fuels are highly flammable, volatile, and difficult to manage safely in small, open containers. However, in many cases, these fire pits have caused serious injuries, property damage, and even deaths.
Hidden Dangers in Tabletop Fire Pits
Knowing the dangers of tabletop fire pits is crucial. Without basic awareness on fire pits, people can face serious risks. Here is the list of common tabletop fire pit dangers:
Flame jetting
When fuel is poured into a hot or still-burning fire pit, vapors can ignite instantly, producing a powerful torch-like flame that shoots 10-15 feet or even more.
Invisible flames
Alcohol flames can be nearly invisible in certain lighting conditions. A fire pit may look extinguished even while vapors and residual flames remain active.
Spill hazards
Small, portable fire pits can be dropped easily. If the burning fuel spills onto clothes, furniture, or skin, it spreads quickly.
Indoor use risks
Some products are advertised for indoor use, but they can release harmful fumes and increase the risk of fires in enclosed spaces.
Tabletop Fire Pits Injuries
Common injuries reported include:
- Second- and third-degree burns to the face, arms, chest, and hands
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement
- Nerve damage or loss of mobility
- Inhalation injuries from sudden fire eruptions
Some cases have even resulted in fatalities, often when invisible flames reignited during refueling.
Recalls and CPSC Safety Warnings
In October 2024, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recalled nearly 90,000 Colsen tabletop fire pits after at least 31 reports of flame jetting and flash fires, 19 of which caused serious burn injuries. Victims included users who required skin grafts and long-term hospitalization.
In December 2024, the CPSC issued a consumer safety alert urging people to stop using FLIKRFIRE units after they were linked to multiple burn injuries and two deaths.
A 93-year-old couple’s daughter reported that during a Father’s Day gathering, an alcohol-fueled fire pit suddenly erupted like a blowtorch, engulfing both parents in flames. The mother died three days later, and the father passed away a week later from severe third-degree burns.
Although no official recall was issued, regulators determined the devices carried the same risks as Colsen fire pits.
Lawsuit against Amazon and Colsen
In one ongoing case, a Texas mother filed a lawsuit after her child suffered devastating burns from a Colsen tabletop fire pit. The family had purchased the product through Amazon in 2021. In 2023, they tried to refuel the pit. Suddenly, flames shoot out, setting the child’s clothing on fire.
The young girl sustained severe burns to her chest, legs, and hands, requiring emergency treatment and ongoing medical care. The lawsuit claims that both Amazon and Colsen failed to ensure the product was safe for consumers.
The complaint accuses Amazon of negligent distribution, strict product liability, and breach of warranty. It highlights that the risks of invisible flames, overheating, and fuel spillage could have been identified through basic safety reviews.
This case is now moving to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, with trial expected in 2026.
Delaware Tabletop Fire Pit Lawsuit
On April 25, 2025, Kayla Hominski, a Delaware woman, filed a lawsuit after she was badly burned by a Colsen tabletop fire pit she bought on Wayfair. When Kayla’s husband tried to relight the fire pit after the flame went out, Kayla was engulfed in flames. She suffered second- and third-degree burns on 43% of her body, spent nearly a month in the hospital, underwent surgeries and blood transfusions, and continues to need ongoing medical care and therapy.
The lawsuit claims the fire pit was negligently designed, poorly manufactured, and sold without proper warnings, and also includes a loss of consortium claim from her husband. The case is against Gusar LLC, Colsen Fire Pits LLC, and Wayfair LLC.
Her case is scheduled for trial in March 2026 and may be one of the first fire pit lawsuits to go before a jury.
Lawsuits filed across the country raise similar claims against manufacturers, distributors, and retailers.
What to do after a Tabletop Fire Pit Accident?
Tabletop fire pit burn injuries often require long hospital stays, surgeries, and for some people, it takes years to heal fully.
If you encounter a tabletop fire pit accident, seek medical help immediately. A small burn can become serious if untreated.
Save the fire pit, fuel containers, receipts, and any instructions or packaging for evidence. Take photos of the accident scene and injuries.
For any legal support, contact a product liability attorney.
If you or a loved one suffered burns from a tabletop fire pit explosion, you may be entitled to compensation through a lawsuit. Legal action can help cover medical bills, lost income, long-term care, and the pain and suffering caused by these preventable accidents.
To sum up,
While tabletop fire pits are often marketed as sleek, decorative pieces that create a cozy atmosphere, their hidden dangers cannot be ignored. Accidents involving burns and explosions have led to a growing number of tabletop fire pit lawsuits across the country. These lawsuits are being filed against manufacturers, distributors, and sellers of these defective products. If you are affected by tabletop fire pits, don’t hesitate to file a lawsuit.
