Alcohol-Fueled Tabletop Fire Pit Lawsuit Overview

Tabletop fire pits are compact, decorative products designed to create ambient flames for indoor or outdoor use. Many models, including those sold under brand names like Colsen and FLÎKRfire, are fueled by liquid ethanol, alcohol-based gels or other liquid fuel. These fire pit products use burning liquid as fuel, which can create invisible alcohol flames and increase the risk of fire hazard. While marketed as safe and stylish centerpieces, these products have come under scrutiny due to reports of sudden explosions, flame jetting, and serious burn injuries.

Unlike traditional fire pits, alcohol-fueled models pose unique dangers. The liquid fuel can remain volatile even after the flame is no longer visible, and attempts to refill the unit while it is still hot can cause fireballs or flashback ignition. The fire pit product’s design can contribute to these hazards. These incidents have led to second- and third-degree burns, disfigurement, and in some cases, death.

Federal safety officials with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) have issued warnings and product recalls after identifying design defects and labeling failures. Many tabletop fire pits lack flame arrestors or clear safety instructions, making them unsafe for everyday use—particularly around children or in enclosed spaces.

Lawsuits now allege that manufacturers and distributors, including Amazon and Gusar LLC, failed to provide proper warnings, ignored voluntary safety standards, and sold unreasonably dangerous products to the public. Victims and families are pursuing lawsuits to recover compensation for injuries, medical bills, and wrongful death.

Who Can File a Tabletop Fire Pit Lawsuit?

Lawsuits are being pursued by individuals who were burned or injured while using alcohol-fueled tabletop fire pits, including those sold under the Colsen and FLÎKRfire brands. Claims are also being filed by families who lost loved ones due to fire pit explosions or flashback incidents.

Compensation may be available for those who experienced:

• Second- or third-degree burns requiring medical treatment
• Permanent scarring, nerve damage, or loss of mobility
• Inhalation injuries from sudden fire eruptions
• Fire-related injuries to children or bystanders
• Wrongful death linked to tabletop fire pit explosions
• Accidents caused by flame jetting during refueling
• Short term disability or time away from work due to injuries
• Prolonged medical treatment, including extended hospitalization and rehabilitation
• Victims who were permanently disfigured as a result of their injuries

To determine whether you or a family member may qualify for a tabletop fire pit lawsuit, submit your information for a free case evaluation. An attorney can review your case, help identify the product involved, and explain your legal rights.

Fire pit injury claims are handled on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no upfront costs, and no legal fees unless compensation is recovered.

Tabletop Fire Pit Recalls Over Burn Risks

Following widespread reports of burn injuries and explosions, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued multiple recalls and public warnings for alcohol-fueled tabletop fire pits sold under the Colsen and FLÎKRfire brand names, citing serious design flaws and violations of voluntary safety standards.

These recalled fire pits pose a significant burn and fire hazard, with features like invisible flames and flame jetting contributing to serious burn hazards. The products have been linked to dozens of injuries and at least two deaths, many of which occurred during routine refueling.

Colsen Tabletop Fire Pit Recall

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a recall of Colsen tabletop fire pits on October 17, 2024, after receiving 31 reports of flame jetting and flash fire incidents. Nineteen of those reports involved burn injuries, several of which required skin grafts or hospitalization. Victims included users who were severely burned when the devices erupted without warning during refueling. The recall specifically targeted Colsen branded fire and Colsen branded fire pits due to these safety hazards.

The recall impacted approximately 89,500 units of Colsen liquid burning fire pits, which were marketed as compact decorative fireplaces made of concrete. The units were sold in a range of shapes, including round, square, rectangular, hexagonal, and skull-shaped designs, and measured between 5 and 18 inches in size.

These defective fire pits feature open pit reservoirs or a fire pit reservoir made of a concrete container, which hold burning liquid alcohol. The design of these pit reservoirs has been linked to incidents of flame jetting, explosions, and severe burns.

They were designed to burn ethanol or isopropyl alcohol and lacked flame arrestors or visible flame indicators, making it difficult to tell when the units were still hot or active.

Recalled Colsen fire pits were sold nationwide from January 2020 through July 2024 for approximately $40 to $90, through major retailers including Amazon, Walmart, Wayfair, TikTok storefronts, Sharper Image, FlipShop, and Grommet.

FLÎKRfire Safety Warning

On December 19, 2024, the CPSC issued a separate consumer warning urging the public to stop using FLÎKRfire tabletop fireplaces after the products were linked to multiple burn injuries and at least two fatalities.

One of the reported deaths occurred in June 2024, when an elderly couple was killed while attempting to refill a FLÎKRfire unit that had not fully extinguished. Additional injuries involved flashback ignitions and unexpected eruptions of flame while the products were in normal use.

Although no formal recall was issued, federal regulators concluded that FLÎKRfire units presented the same flame jetting and pool fire risks as other recalled models. The devices were manufactured by FLÎKR LLC and Seera Creative LLC, both of which have since ceased operations and are no longer offering customer support or refunds.

FLÎKRfire units were sold nationwide through Amazon, CB2, Macy’s, Nordstrom, and other retailers from 2018 through 2024, typically priced between $35 and $105.

Like the Colsen models, these devices relied on liquid alcohol fuel and lacked key safety features such as flame guards and temperature indicators. The CPSC urged all consumers to immediately stop using these products, dispose of them, and avoid further use, regardless of whether any incident had occurred. FLÎKRfire tabletop fire pits are considered extremely dangerous and unsafe for continued use.

Why Do Tabletop Fire Pits Explode?

Although marketed as safe for home or patio use, many tabletop fire pits pose hidden and serious dangers due to their use of volatile liquid fuels like ethanol or isopropyl alcohol. Burning alcohol and similar liquid fuels can result in pooled liquid, which may ignite and cause an uncontrollable pool fire.

These fuels can remain flammable long after the visible flame is extinguished, especially if the device retains residual heat or vapors. When users attempt refilling alcohol or similar liquid fuels in the same location too soon, it can result in sudden ignition or a violent burst of flame.

In many cases, the fire is not visible at all, leading consumers to mistakenly believe the device is safe to handle. Without flame guards, temperature indicators, or safety shutoffs, these fire pits can erupt unexpectedly during routine refueling, with flames escaping several feet outward and creating larger hotter flames, especially when refilling alcohol in the same location.

This increases the risk of larger hotter flames and severe injuries. Improper refueling can create larger hotter flames due to high flame temperatures, making these incidents even more dangerous.

What Is Flame Jetting?

Flame jetting is a dangerous and often misunderstood phenomenon where a stream of flammable liquid or vapor ignites as it is poured into a heat source or open flame. In the context of tabletop fire pits, flame jetting can occur when users refill the device before it has fully cooled or while a low or invisible flame is still active. Even a small flame can remain, posing a significant danger because it may not be visible but can still ignite fuel.

When the liquid fuel contacts the heated surface or residual flame, it can ignite instantly, creating a powerful, torch-like jet of fire. This jet can shoot several feet in a concentrated stream, often directly at the person pouring the fuel, as shown below by the U.S. CPSC

Victims have described the fireball as erupting “without warning,” leaving them with extensive burns to their hands, arms, face, and upper body.

Flame jetting is particularly dangerous because it gives users little to no time to react. The injuries are often severe and can occur in less than one second, causing victims to experience injury quickly before they can react, even when the device is used according to its marketing instructions.

Tabletop Fire Pit Explosion Injuries

Victims of defective tabletop fire pits have reported a range of serious injuries, many of which occurred during routine use, often while trying to refill the fire pit or when a flame was not visible. Common injuries include:

• Second- and third-degree burns to the face, hands, arms, and torso
• Permanent scarring, disfigurement, and nerve damage
• Inhalation injuries caused by sudden combustion or smoke exposure
• Loss of sensation or mobility due to deep tissue damage
• Fatal injuries, especially when the fire spread rapidly or involved children nearby

Explosions from these fire pits can have a devastating impact on victims’ bodies, often causing burns and other severe injuries such as deep tissue damage and lasting disfigurement.

Victims often require emergency medical intervention, hospitalization in specialized burn units, and extensive care at burn treatment facilities.

Burn Injury Treatment Requirements

Most victims of tabletop fire pit explosions suffer second- or third-degree burns, which are among the most severe types of thermal injuries. These burns can destroy multiple layers of skin and damage underlying nerves, blood vessels, and tissue.

Treatment for such injuries is intensive and may involve:

• Immediate emergency care, including IV fluids, wound cleaning, and pain management
• Hospitalization in specialized burn units for infection prevention and monitoring
• Surgical skin grafts to replace damaged or destroyed skin
• Long-term rehabilitation, including physical therapy to restore mobility and strength
• Scar revision procedures or reconstructive surgery in cases of disfigurement
• Ongoing psychological counseling to address trauma, anxiety, and PTSD

In addition to physical recovery, burn victims often face months, or even years, of emotional and financial hardship, especially when injuries result in disfigurement or permanent disability. As a result individuals are now seeking compensation for their injuries through lawsuits to offset these long-term effects and hold manufacturers accountable for unsafe designs.

Which Fire Pit Products Are Being Named in Lawsuits?

Lawsuits and recalls have primarily involved products that use liquid alcohol-based fuels, which are more volatile than gel or propane alternatives.

Brands and sellers include:

• Colsen Tabletop Fire Pits – Numerous models recalled for lacking safety features
• FLÎKRfire Tabletop Fireplaces – Designed for indoor ambiance, but linked to burn reports
• Amazon.com, Inc. – Named as a distributor under marketplace liability claims
• Gusar LLC – A seller linked to recalled Colsen fire pits
• Other generic or private-label tabletop fire pits sold via online retailers

These units are often advertised as portable, refillable, and stylish—but fail to include flame arrestors, child safety warnings, or proper refueling instructions.

Allegations Raised in Fire Pit Lawsuits

Lawsuits filed across multiple jurisdictions raise consistent product liability and negligence claims against manufacturers and retailers. Common allegations include:

• Misleading Marketing: Products were promoted as safe for indoor or tabletop use, despite lacking necessary safeguards or instructions to prevent fuel-based explosions.
• Defective Design: Fire pits were designed without basic safety mechanisms, making flame jetting, fuel spillage, and sudden ignition foreseeable risks.
• Failure to Warn: Products lacked adequate warnings about invisible flames, refueling dangers, and the potential for life-threatening burn injuries.
• Violation of Safety Standards: Many units failed to comply with ASTM F3363-19, a voluntary safety standard aimed at preventing flame jetting and pool fires.
• Negligent Distribution by Amazon: Amazon is accused of allowing the continued sale of hazardous fire pits, failing to act on known risks, and operating as a distributor responsible for defective products on its platform.
• Failure to Remove Recalled Products: Plaintiffs allege that Amazon and other sellers allowed dangerous or recalled products to remain listed online even after CPSC warnings.

Fire Pit Explosion Lawsuit Examples

Amazon Fire Pit Lawsuit Filed in Texas

In April 2025, a tabletop fire pit lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas by plaintiff Jordan Little, alleging that an alcohol-fueled fire pit purchased through Amazon.com caused catastrophic burn injuries. In the complaint (pdf), the product is described as defectively designed and lacking flame arrestors or visible flame indicators, resulting in a sudden flash fire during routine use.

The lawsuit claims Amazon acted as a direct distributor and failed to provide adequate safety warnings or remove hazardous products from its marketplace, even after federal regulators issued recalls and injury reports.

Colsen Fire Pit Explosion Lawsuit in Colorado

A product liability lawsuit was filed in Colorado federal court in 2025 by Angela Thauberger, who suffered severe burns when a Colsen tabletop fire pit exploded while she was refueling it with ethanol. In the complaint (pdf), the plaintiff names both Gusar LLC and Amazon as defendants, asserting that both companies marketed and sold a dangerously defective product.

The Colsen unit in question was among those recalled in October 2024 after dozens of injuries were reported. Thauberger’s lawsuit seeks compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and permanent disfigurement.

Gusar Fire Pit Burn Injury Lawsuit

In Hominski v. Gusar, LLC, a lawsuit filed in the Southern District of Florida, the plaintiffs claim that a defective tabletop fire pit purchased online erupted without warning, causing significant injuries to multiple family members.

The incident occurred during routine use while the flame appeared to be extinguished. In the complaint (pdf), the plaintiffs accuse the manufacturer and seller of failing to include safety features or adequate warnings about the fire and explosion risks.

The case may serve as a bellwether for similar fire pit litigation nationwide, involving claims for defective design, failure to warn, and negligent distribution of a product that violated basic safety principles.

Start A Tabletop Fire Pit Recall Lawsuit

If you or a loved one suffered burns or other injuries caused by a tabletop fire pit explosion, you may be entitled to financial compensation.

Attorneys are currently investigating:

• Personal injury claims involving burns, disfigurement, or long-term medical treatment
• Wrongful death lawsuits filed by families who lost loved ones due to defective fire pit products

All cases are handled on a contingency-fee basis, meaning there are no upfront costs and no legal fees unless a recovery is obtained through settlement or trial