What Is Bircata?
Bircata is a retailer that sells alcohol-burning tabletop fire pits through its own website at Bircata.com and through third-party online platforms. Among its products is a concrete-construction tabletop fire pit that burns isopropyl rubbing alcohol or bioethanol and is marketed as producing a “clean burning and smoke-free” flame suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.
That smokeless, odorless quality — one of the product’s primary selling points — is also one of its greatest dangers. Because these fuels burn with a nearly colorless, nearly invisible flame, users often cannot tell whether the fire pit is still lit before attempting to add more fuel.
The Moment Everything Goes Wrong
Most serious tabletop fire pit injuries follow the same sequence. A user believes the fire has gone out. They reach for their bottle of isopropyl alcohol and begin to pour. What they cannot see is that a small, nearly invisible flame is still burning in the reservoir — and the moment the fuel makes contact with that flame, a violent explosion of burning liquid erupts outward.
This phenomenon — known as flame jetting — can propel burning liquid and fire in a blowtorch-like effect, sometimes traveling 15 feet or more from the point of ignition [1]. At flame temperatures exceeding 1,600°F, alcohol fuel can cause third-degree burns in under one second — before most people can even react.
What Federal Regulators Have Said
In December 2024, the CPSC issued a sweeping consumer alert calling the entire category of alcohol-burning tabletop fire pits “extremely dangerous” and urging all consumers to immediately stop using them [1]. The agency stated the hazards are widespread across the entire product category and tied to a design that violates voluntary safety standard ASTM F3363-19 — which specifically prohibits products that require users to pour and ignite liquid fuel in the same open container.
Since 2019, these products have been linked to at least two deaths and more than 60 documented burn injuries nationwide. Children represent approximately 25% of reported victims.
Recalls and Legal Action
In October 2024, Colsen Fire Pits LLC recalled approximately 89,500 tabletop fire pits after 19 burn injuries — including two victims with third-degree burns covering more than 40% of their bodies [2]. In June 2024, an elderly couple died after flame jetting occurred when a bystander tried to refuel a FLIKRFIRE tabletop fireplace that appeared to be extinguished [3].
Lawsuits have been filed in courts across the country against Amazon, Colsen, Wayfair, Walmart, and other manufacturers and retailers. Bircata is among the brands that attorneys are actively investigating for burn injury claims on behalf of consumers nationwide.
Can I File a Lawsuit?
Product liability law allows injured consumers to pursue claims against the manufacturer, retailer, or importer of a defective product — regardless of whether that product has been formally recalled. Consumers who were burned while using a Bircata tabletop fire pit may have significant legal options. A class action lawsuit could allow affected individuals to seek compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, permanent scarring or disfigurement, lost wages, and other related losses. Contact an attorney promptly 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