What Are Alcohol-Burning Tabletop Fire Pits?
Alcohol-burning tabletop fire pits — also marketed as tabletop fireplaces, fire pots, portable fires, or miniature fireplaces — are compact decorative appliances designed to produce a live flame indoors or outdoors. They are typically sold through Amazon, Walmart, Wayfair, Target, and other major retail platforms, often for as little as $15 to $100.
Most of these products burn isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol, ethanol, or bioethanol poured directly into an open container or reservoir, where it is ignited in the same location. That design — pouring and igniting liquid fuel in the same open container — is at the heart of the danger these products present.
Why They Are So Dangerous
The CPSC has identified two specific and distinct hazards that make alcohol-burning fire pits dangerous by design [1]. The first is an uncontrolled pool fire, in which the pooled liquid fuel ignites and produces flames that suddenly expand far beyond the boundaries of the fire pit onto nearby people, furniture, and surfaces.
The second — and more explosive — hazard is flame jetting. Flame jetting occurs when a user attempts to refuel a fire pit that still contains residual heat or a small, nearly invisible flame. Pouring alcohol near that residual ignition source can cause a sudden explosive fireball that propels burning liquid outward at tremendous speed and force, sometimes traveling 15 feet or more.
The alcohol fuels used in these products burn at temperatures exceeding 1,600°F — hot enough to cause third-degree burns in under one second. The flames produced by isopropyl alcohol and ethanol are nearly colorless and nearly invisible in daylight, making it nearly impossible for users to determine whether the fire is still burning before attempting to add more fuel.
The Federal Safety Standard These Products Violate
ASTM F3363-19 is the voluntary safety standard that governs portable liquid-burning fire products and is specifically designed to prevent pool fires and flame jetting. Products that require users to pour liquid fuel into an open container and ignite it in the same location — which describes virtually every alcohol-burning tabletop fire pit on the market — violate this standard [1]. The CPSC has stated clearly that the hazards these products present are widespread across the entire product category — not limited to a single brand or design.
Major Recalls and CPSC Warnings
In October 2024, Colsen Fire Pits LLC recalled approximately 89,500 tabletop fire pits after 31 reports of flame jetting and escaping flames resulted in 19 burn injuries [2]. Two victims suffered third-degree burns covering more than 40% of their bodies, and six cases required surgery, specialized burn unit care, and physical therapy.
In December 2024, the CPSC issued a broad consumer alert urging all consumers to immediately stop using alcohol-burning fire pits and all sellers to stop selling them. That same month, the CPSC issued a separate warning specifically about FLIKRFIRE Tabletop Fireplaces, which had been linked to the deaths of an elderly couple in June 2024 after flame jetting occurred during a refueling attempt [3].
In April 2026, the CPSC warned consumers to stop using Rozato Tabletop Fire Pits after they were linked to one death and multiple serious burn injuries [4]. Rozato refused to issue a recall. In May 2026, the CPSC issued a similar warning for Northlight Bio Ethanol Portable Tabletop Fireplaces; the retailer, Gordon Companies Inc., also objected to the warning and declined to recall the product [5].
In September 2025, Five Below recalled approximately 66,000 tabletop fire pits after reports of leaking fuel causing flash fires and burn injuries. In late 2025, Amazon was also the subject of a CPSC recall involving MoonSoll and Magic Chems ethanol fireplace fuel sold on its platform — products that lacked mandatory flame mitigation devices and falsely described their contents as non-toxic.
Lawsuits Filed
Multiple product liability lawsuits have been filed against manufacturers, importers, and online retail platforms in connection with tabletop fire pit injuries. Cases have named Amazon, Colsen, Wayfair, Walmart, and other defendants in courts across the country, including class actions in Florida and North Carolina and individual injury lawsuits in Texas and Colorado.
In January 2026, a Florida woman filed suit against Amazon after a PFOOZY tabletop fire pit exploded in a flame jetting incident when her husband attempted to relight the fire pit by pouring liquid ethanol into the reservoir. A wrongful death lawsuit has also been filed in connection with the June 2024 deaths of the elderly couple killed in a FLIKRFIRE flame jetting incident.
Who May Be Held Liable
Product liability law allows injured consumers to pursue claims against any party in the supply chain whose negligence or defective product contributed to the burn injury. Depending on the facts of each case, potentially liable parties may include the manufacturer, importer, distributor, and online or retail seller of the fire pit.
Courts have found that when a product design violates a recognized safety standard — as virtually all alcohol-burning fire pits do under ASTM F3363-19 — that violation can serve as powerful evidence of a defect. In cases where a manufacturer continued selling units after receiving injury reports, punitive damages may also be available.
Injuries These Products Cause
Children represent roughly 25% of reported victims according to CPSC data, and group gatherings account for approximately 40% of incidents — meaning a single explosion frequently injures more than one person. Victims have suffered second- and third-degree burns to the face, hands, arms, chest, and torso, as well as injuries requiring skin grafting, wound debridement, reconstructive surgery, and prolonged burn unit care.
Permanent scarring, disfigurement, nerve damage, and psychological trauma are common long-term outcomes. In the most severe cases, tabletop fire pit injuries have been fatal.
Can I File a Lawsuit?
Consumers who were burned by an alcohol-burning tabletop fire pit — whether from a pool fire or a flame jetting explosion — may have significant legal options against the manufacturer, seller, or importer. A class action lawsuit could allow affected consumers to seek compensation for medical expenses, surgical costs, hospitalization, pain and suffering, permanent scarring or disfigurement, lost wages, and other related losses. Contact an attorney as soon as possible to have your case evaluated.
References
1. https://www.cpsc.gov/Warnings/2025/Consumer-Alert-Stop-Using-Alcohol-or-Other-Liquid-Burning-Fire-Pits-That-Violate-Voluntary-Standards-and-Present-Flame-Jetting-and-Fire-Hazards-Two-Deaths-and-Dozens-of-Serious-Burn-Injuries-Reported
2. https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2024/Colsen-Fire-Pits-LLC-Recalls-Tabletop-Fire-Pits-Due-to-Flame-Jetting-and-Fire-Hazards
3. https://www.cpsc.gov/Warnings/2025/CPSC-Urges-Consumers-to-Stop-Using-FLIKRFIRE-Tabletop-Fireplaces-Due-to-Flame-Jetting-and-Fire-Hazards-Two-Deaths-and-Serious-Burn-Injuries-Reported
4. https://www.cpsc.gov/Warnings/2026/CPSC-Warns-Consumers-to-Stop-Using-Rozato-Tabletop-Fire-Pits-Immediately-Due-to-Flame-Jetting-and-Fire-Hazards-One-Death-and-Serious-Burn-Injuries-Reported
5. https://www.cpsc.gov/Warnings/2026/CPSC-Warns-Consumers-to-Stop-Using-Northlight-Bio-Ethanol-Portable-Tabletop-Fireplaces-Immediately-Due-to-Risk-of-Serious-Burn-Injury-or-Death-from-Flame-Jetting-and-Fire-Hazards