Amazon Tabletop Fire Pit Burn Lawsuit Alleges Missing Safety Warnings Led to Flame Jetting Injuries

Lawsuit claims fire investigators identified flame jetting as a likely cause, citing the lack of a flame arrestor on the fuel bottle as a contributing factor.

A New Jersey family and their friend have filed a product liability lawsuit alleging a tabletop fire pit and ethanol fuel purchased through Amazon caused a sudden flash fire that severely burned a child and an adult, leaving both with permanent injuries.

The complaint (PDF) was brought by a minor, K.H., through her father, Kyle Hatch, and Karina Timbers in the Superior Court of New Jersey on October 6. It names Amazon.com Inc., Amazon.com Services LLC and various unknown entities as defendants.

K.H. and Timbers claim Amazon knew or should have known about the dangers of flame jetting from previous incidents, recalls and federal safety warnings but continued selling the products without adequate safeguards or instructions.

Tabletop Fire Pit Risks

Tabletop fire pits are compact, portable appliances that burn alcohol or similar liquid fuels to produce flames for warmth, ambiance or cooking. Although commonly advertised for patios, decks and balconies, some models are also marketed for indoor use.

Many tabletop fire pits feature open reservoirs that must be filled manually with liquid fuel, creating a risk of serious burns if users attempt to refill them before the flames have been completely extinguished. Alcohol-based fuels can burn at temperatures exceeding 1,600 degrees Fahrenheit, and their flames are sometimes nearly invisible, making it difficult to determine whether the appliance is safe to refuel.

Growing reports of serious tabletop fire pit burn injuries have involved sudden fires and explosions that engulf users and nearby bystanders in flames or spray them with burning fuel, often during refueling.

A number of tabletop fire pit lawsuits now allege manufacturers and retailers failed to incorporate adequate safety features or warn consumers about the risks of flame jetting, which can occur when fire travels into a fuel container and violently expels burning liquid and vapor.

Amazon is frequently named as a defendant in these cases because many of the allegedly defective fire pits and associated fuel products were purchased through its online marketplace.

Amazon Tabletop Fire Pit Burn Allegations

According to the complaint, K.H.’s mother, Nashonda Clark, purchased a Rozato Tabletop Fire Pit with a s’mores maker kit from Amazon on April 9, 2024, for use at her Cherry Hill, New Jersey, home. She purchased a one-liter bottle of Wilteexs Premium Ethanol Fuel on May 27, 2025, which she claims Amazon advertised for use with tabletop fire pits and ethanol fireplaces.

On June 1, 2025, K.H. and several other children were roasting marshmallows with the tabletop fire pit. After the flames appeared to die down, an adult friend, Duane Jones, attempted to add more ethanol fuel to the appliance.

The lawsuit alleges that adding the fuel triggered a violent flash fire that engulfed K.H. in flames and burned Timbers, who was nearby with her back turned to the fire pit.

K.H. was hospitalized at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children from June 1 through July 4, 2025. She suffered serious burns requiring additional surgeries, with permanent scarring, disfigurement, pain and mobility limitations. Her medical bills allegedly exceeded $2 million.

Timbers was treated at Jefferson Hospital for severe burns to her back and remained hospitalized from June 1 through June 12, 2025. The complaint alleges she continues to experience permanent scarring, disfigurement, pain and impaired mobility.

The Cherry Hill Fire Department and Police Department investigated the incident and concluded that flame jetting was the likely cause. Fire investigators allegedly identified the absence of a flame arrestor on the Wilteexs fuel bottle as a factor that allowed the phenomenon to occur.

Flame arrestors are protective screens or similar devices installed in fuel-container openings to reduce the risk of flames traveling into the container.

The incident occurred nearly six months after the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a December 19, 2024, warning about flame jetting hazards associated with alcohol-fueled tabletop fire pits that violate voluntary safety standards.

Despite that warning, the complaint alleges Amazon continued selling the fire pit and ethanol fuel without adequate safety measures or instructions to prevent similar incidents.

“In short: Amazon and Amazon Services know that the Amazon name and branding make consumers feel that the products purchased through their platform are safe, reputable, and built in accordance with industry standards. But, as described above, the reality is that the Subject Tabletop Fire Pit was designed and manufactured in a manner that was well below industry standards by utilizing a design known to be dangerous and to have caused injuries without employing any of the necessary safeguards to prevent or mitigate that known danger.”

— K.H. et al v. Amazon.com Inc. et al.

The lawsuit raises allegations of design defect and failure to warn. It seeks punitive damages.

Tabletop Fire Pit Lawsuits

As reports of severe burns continue to raise concerns about tabletop fire pit safety, attorneys are investigating tabletop fire pit lawsuits on behalf of individuals injured by sudden fires, explosions and flame-jetting incidents throughout the United States.

Reported injuries associated with these incidents include:

• Second- and third-degree burns
• Permanent scarring and disfigurement
• Nerve damage and impaired mobility
• Respiratory injuries from smoke, flames or burning fuel
• Severe burns from sudden flare-ups during refueling
• Fatal burn injuries

Consumers who suffered injuries involving a defective tabletop fire pit may be eligible to pursue financial compensation for medical expenses, lost income, diminished earning capacity, physical pain, emotional suffering and other losses resulting from the incident.

Tabletop fire pit lawyers are offering free case evaluations to help individuals determine whether their injuries may be linked to a dangerous or recalled product and whether they have grounds to pursue a claim.

These cases are handled on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no upfront attorney fees, and legal fees are collected only if compensation is recovered through a settlement or verdict.

Sign up for more legal news that could affect you or your family.