Walmart Ozark Trail Stove Lawsuit Filed After Camping Stove Explosion Caused Severe Burns

Federal officials announced a recall of certain Ozark Trail butane stoves in November 2025 after at least 26 reports of explosions or fires, including 16 injuries such as second-degree burns.

A Colorado woman has filed a product liability lawsuit against Walmart, alleging that an Ozark Trail butane camping stove sold by the retailer exploded during normal use, causing severe burn injuries that required surgery and left her with permanent scarring.

The complaint (PDF) was brought by Maike S. Hirst-Rodney in Colorado District Court on December 31, 2025, naming Walmart Inc. as the sole defendant. It was removed to the U.S. District Court for Colorado on January 26.

A butane camping stove is a small, portable cooking device commonly used for camping, tailgating or emergency situations when a full kitchen is not available. It typically uses a disposable metal canister filled with butane gas, which fuels a single burner for heating food or boiling water.

However, these devices rely on pressurized flammable gas, which means certain defects may allow heat to build up near the fuel canister, increasing the risk of leaks, flare-ups or explosions. If a canister overheats, gas can escape and ignite, potentially causing severe burns or fires. These risks are heightened if safety features fail or if the stove lacks proper heat shielding.

The lawsuit comes amid broader safety concerns involving outdoor and recreational products that rely on heat or flammable components. Similar design defect allegations have emerged in a growing number of heated insole lawsuits, in which consumers claim battery-powered insoles used for hunting or cold-weather activities ignited while being worn. Those cases allege serious burn injuries, including incidents requiring skin grafts, debridement or multiple corrective surgeries.

According to her complaint, Hirst-Rodney’s incident occurred on June 30, 2024, while she was camping with her family at Chatfield State Park outside Denver. The lawsuit claims the Ozark Trail single-burner stove, which had been purchased from a Walmart store about a year earlier, suddenly erupted into an “explosive ball of fire” roughly 20 minutes after it was turned on, despite being used as instructed.

The lawsuit alleges that Hirst-Rodney was seated nearby when the stove malfunctioned, sending flames directly toward her right foot and lower leg. She reportedly suffered immediate, excruciating pain and ran into a nearby lake in an attempt to cool the burns.

Medical records cited in the lawsuit indicate the woman suffered partial-thickness second-degree burns with significant blistering. The injuries were severe enough to require surgical debridement and skin grafting. According to the complaint, cadaver skin was used as a temporary biological covering, a treatment typically reserved for catastrophic burn injuries. Hirst-Rodney alleges she will face permanent disfigurement, along with ongoing physical and emotional harm.

Butane Stove Failure

The lawsuit indicates that the stove failed the first time it was used and that the explosion occurred even though the family followed all instructions and safety warnings provided with the product. The complaint further claims the stove was operating with a Coleman brand butane canister equipped with a pressure-release safety vent, which reportedly activated due to excessive heat inside the unit.

The stove’s design allegedly placed the butane canister too close to the burner and lacked adequate heat shielding or thermal barriers. As a result, Hirst-Rodney says that normal operation allowed excessive heat to transfer to the canister, causing fuel to vent and ignite upon contact with the active flame.

The complaint claims Walmart knew or should have known about the dangers posed by the Ozark Trail stove prior to the incident, citing customer complaints and reviews posted on Walmart’s own website describing explosions, fires and burn injuries involving the same product. However, Walmart continued selling the stove without issuing warnings, design changes or a recall.

However, federal regulators announced a recall of the Ozark Trail butane stove in November 2025 following Hirst-Rodney’s injuries. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reportedly identified at least 26 incidents involving the stoves exploding or catching fire, including 16 reports of injuries such as second-degree burns.

Although Walmart is listed as the retailer, distributor and seller, the lawsuit alleges the company effectively acted as the manufacturer by marketing, labeling and selling the stove exclusively under its Ozark Trail private-label brand. The complaint claims Walmart exercised control over design, testing, labeling and warnings, and failed to disclose the identity of any third-party manufacturer.

“Walmart, as a retailer selling products to the public, owed a duty of reasonable care to sell products that are safe for their intended use.”

— Maike S. Hirst-Rodney v. Walmart Inc.

The lawsuit raises allegations of strict product liability, negligence, failure to warn, breach of implied and express warranties, and negligent failure to recall. It seeks damages for medical expenses, pain and suffering, emotional distress, permanent disfigurement and loss of enjoyment of life.

Heated Insole Lawsuits

In addition to concerns that campers and other consumers may have regarding butane stove explosions, lawsuits are also being filed over outdoor burn injuries caused by heated insoles.

Many of these complaints indicate that the foot warming devices have burst into flames while consumers were wearing them, causing severe injuries that require multiple surgeries and long-term medical treatment.

As a result of these concerns, heated insole burn injury lawyers are now investigating claims for individuals nationwide who purchased the products and experienced any of the following:

• Burns to the feet or toes
• Heated insole overheating, igniting or catching fire during normal use
• Emergency medical treatment or hospitalization for burn injuries
• Surgery or skin grafts related to foot burns
• Ongoing pain, scarring or mobility limitations

Heated insole lawsuits seek to hold manufacturers and distributors, such as Amazon and others, responsible for placing allegedly dangerous products into the marketplace without adequate safety testing or warnings. 

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