The Hidden Dangers of Fire Pits: Recalls, Risks, and Your Legal Rights

A tabletop fire pit may seem like a fun addition to a living space, providing a chic atmosphere for cozy evenings, but beneath its inviting glow lies a serious and often overlooked hazard: “flame jetting.” 

Flame jetting is a dangerous malfunction that can result in severe burns or even worse. While most tabletop fire pits capable of flame jetting have been recalled, many remain on the market, leaving unsuspecting consumers at risk.

If you or someone you love has been injured due to a tabletop fire pit accident, contact Morgan & Morgan, America’s largest personal injury law firm, for a free case evaluation to learn about your legal options. You may be entitled to compensation.

What Is Flame Jetting, and Why Are Fire Pits So Dangerous?

Flame jetting occurs when a user tries to pour liquid fuel (like alcohol) into a fire pit that still harbors an invisible flame. That flame can ignite the fuel instantly, causing fire to flash back into the container and unleash burning alcohol outward. 

This risk, combined with the uncontrolled nature of burning alcohol, which can reach temperatures over 1,600 °F, makes fires erupting in less than a second able to inflict third-degree burns almost instantly.

In one tragic incident reported in July 2025, an 18-year-old in California suffered severe facial and bodily burns after a tabletop fire pit experienced flame-jetting during a s’mores activity.

Since 2019, liquid-burning tabletop fire pits have been connected to at least 60 injuries and 2 deaths, including an elderly New Hampshire couple who were tragically engulfed in flames.

The Colsen Fire Pit Recall: What You Need to Know

On October 17, 2024, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced the recall of approximately 89,500 Colsen-branded fire pits, sold between January 2020 and July 2024 at retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Wayfair, Sharper Image, FlipShop, Grommet, Meta platforms, TikTok, and Colsen’s own site.

There have been at least 31 reports of flame jetting or flames escaping the container, leading to 19 burn injuries, with two involving third-degree burns affecting more than 40% of the body. At least six required surgery or extended burn treatment.

Colsen urged owners to immediately stop using and safely dispose of the fire pits, as resale or donation is illegal under federal law. However, no refunds or replacements were offered due to the company’s stated lack of financial resources.

 

Are These Dangerous Fire Pits Still on the Market?

Yes, despite the recall, many of these fire pits likely remain in homes, sold secondhand, or gifted. The CPSC recall and warnings have not reached every consumer, nor have many retailers proactively removed them from circulation. This makes the risk of injury persist even today.

If You’ve Been Injured, Here’s What to Do

Following the immediate aftermath of a serious fire pit accident, your next steps are very important. Here’s what to do.

• Seek medical attention if you've been injured.
• Preserve evidence, including:
  • Photos of injuries
  • The fire pit itself (if possible)
  • Purchase records or receipts
• Discontinue using and dispose of the recalled product—do not donate or resell it.
• Contact Morgan & Morgan for a free case evaluation. We can help determine your eligibility for compensation, including medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering, and whether action is still timely under applicable statutes.

At Morgan & Morgan, we stand ready to support victims of defective products. If you or a loved one has sustained burns, disfigurement, or other harm, including hospitalization, permanent injury, or emotional trauma, from using a fire pit, you may have grounds for a product liability claim.

Possible legal angles include:

• Design defect: If the inherent design (like an open alcohol reservoir) made the product dangerous even when used correctly.
• Failure to warn: If the product lacked sufficient safety warnings or instructions about risks like refueling hazards.
• Negligence or breach of warranty: If the manufacturer or seller failed to meet safety obligations or misrepresented the product’s safety.

What starts as a harmless fire pit can turn catastrophic in less than a second. With dozens of injuries, tragic deaths, and tens of thousands of units recalled but still potentially in circulation, it’s important that consumers understand the danger, take proactive steps to protect themselves, and know their legal rights.

If you or someone you know has been harmed by a flame-jetting or otherwise dangerous fire pit, please reach out to Morgan & Morgan to take your first steps toward justice and moving forward with your life.