Houswise Tabletop Fire Pit Lawsuit Alleges Flame Jetting Caused Severe Burn Injuries

Federal regulators warned consumers to stop using approximately 53,500 Houswise Tabletop Fire Pits earlier this year after more than two dozen reports of flame jetting, fuel leaks or unexpectedly high flames.

A Texas man has filed a product liability lawsuit alleging a Houswise Tabletop Fire Pit caused flames to shoot from a fuel bottle while he was refilling the device, leaving him with severe burns and permanent scarring.

The complaint (PDF) was brought by Nathan Edward Ward in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York on September 24, naming Furmia LLC as the sole defendant.

Ward claims the fire pit was defectively designed to burn liquid fuel in an open reservoir and lacked adequate warnings about flame jetting and flashbacks. He also alleges Furmia marketed the product as having “ASTM-Certified Construction,” despite failing to meet an applicable ASTM safety standard for portable fuel-burning devices.

Tabletop Fire Pit Risks

Tabletop fire pits are small, portable devices that use alcohol or similar liquid fuels to create an open flame for heat, decoration or cooking. They are commonly marketed for use on patios, decks and balconies, while some products are also promoted for indoor settings.

Many designs require users to pour liquid fuel directly into an open reservoir, which can make the refueling process especially dangerous if flames or hot surfaces remain present. Alcohol-based fuels can burn at temperatures above 1,600 degrees Fahrenheit, and their flames may be difficult to see, increasing the risk of sudden ignition, flashback or flame jetting.

In recent years, reports of serious tabletop fire pit burn injuries have involved users refilling or operating the products, as well as nearby individuals struck by flames or burning fuel during sudden fires and explosions.

A number of tabletop fire pit lawsuits allege the products were sold with unsafe designs and inadequate warnings or instructions. The claims frequently raise concerns about open fuel reservoirs, difficult-to-see flames and flame jetting, which can cause fire to rapidly travel through fuel vapors and erupt from a container during refueling.

Houswise Tabletop Fire Pit Injury Allegations

According to the complaint, Ward purchased the Houswise fire pit through Amazon on September 10, 2024. Less than a month later, on October 4, he was allegedly adding isopropyl alcohol to the reservoir as instructed when a flame suddenly jetted or flashed back from the bottle, striking his face, neck, ears and right arm.

Ward claims he suffered mixed partial- and full-thickness burns over approximately 18% of his body and continues to experience significant scarring on his face, neck and right forearm.

The lawsuit alleges Furmia failed to adequately test the product, conduct a Failure Modes and Effects Analysis or incorporate available safer alternative designs. It also claims the fire pit’s open-reservoir design failed to comply with ASTM F3363-19, including requirements for warnings about flame jetting and flashbacks on both the product and in its instructions.

In December 2024, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warned consumers to stop using liquid-burning fire pits that violate ASTM F3363-19, indicating the products had been linked to two deaths and at least 60 injuries since 2019.

Federal regulators later issued a more specific warning on July 16, 2026, urging consumers to immediately stop using Houswise Tabletop Fire Pits. The CPSC identified at least 53,500 units and said it had received more than two dozen reports involving flame jetting, fuel leaks or unexpectedly high flames, resulting in seven injuries, including third-degree burns.

The agency also indicated Furmia had not agreed to recall the products or provide consumers with a remedy, instead advising owners to stop using and dispose of them.

“Furmia sold these fire pits, including the subject fire pit, with a series of fatal defects that make them inherently dangerous to consumers. Moreover, it continues to sell these dangerously defective fire pits to consumers, CPSC warnings urging it to stop doing so.”

— Nathan Edward Ward v. Furmia LLC

The lawsuit raises allegations of strict liability, common law negligence, negligent design defect, negligent failure to warn, negligent misrepresentation, fraudulent misrepresentation, breach of implied warranty of merchantability and breach of express warranty. It seeks general and special damages for economic losses and pain and suffering.

Tabletop Fire Pit Burn Injury Lawsuits

As recalls and reports of serious burn injuries continue to surface, lawyers are reviewing potential tabletop fire pit lawsuits nationwide for individuals who suffered injuries in fires, explosions or flame-jetting incidents. Injuries reported in these cases may include:

• Second- and third-degree burns
• Permanent scars and disfigurement
• Nerve damage or reduced mobility
• Respiratory injuries from flames, smoke or burning fuel
• Severe burns caused by unexpected flare-ups during refueling
• Fatal burn injuries

Individuals injured by a tabletop fire pit may be entitled to seek financial compensation for medical costs, lost wages, reduced future earning potential, pain and suffering, emotional distress and other damages associated with their injuries.

Tabletop fire pit lawyers are providing free consultations to determine whether an incident may have involved a defective or recalled product and to help injured consumers understand their potential legal options.

Cases are pursued on a contingency fee basis, which means individuals pay no upfront legal fees or expenses, and attorneys receive payment only if they obtain compensation on their client’s behalf.

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