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Michelle Kendall and her husband Chase Kendall filed a product liability lawsuit on January 15, 2026 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan (Case Number 1:26-cv-00158). The lawsuit follows a December 2024 CPSC consumer alert warning about liquid-burning fire pits that have been linked to two deaths and at least 60 burn injuries since 2019 [1].
The Explosion Incident
The Kendalls purchased the Brookstone tabletop fire pit from Macy’s on June 13, 2024. On June 21, 2025, Chase Kendall attempted to add fuel to the fire pit after it appeared to be extinguished.
Upon adding the liquid fuel, the fire pit suddenly exploded, engulfing Michelle Kendall in flames. She sustained widespread, excruciatingly painful second- and third-degree burns to her face, neck, and chest requiring emergency hospitalization.
Flame-Jetting Hazard
Tabletop fire pits fueled by isopropyl alcohol or ethanol can experience a phenomenon known as “flame-jetting” when consumers attempt to add fuel. The flames from alcohol-fueled fire pits can burn completely invisibly, making the device appear extinguished when it is actually still burning.
When liquid fuel comes into contact with residual heat, flames, or vapors in the fire pit, the result can be a sudden explosive jet of flame that shoots several feet away from the source. These explosive jets propel fire and burning droplets of liquid alcohol at temperatures exceeding 1,600°F—hot enough to cause third-degree burns in less than one second.
Voluntary Standard Violations
Fire pits that require consumers to pour isopropyl alcohol or other liquid fuel into an open container and then ignite the pooled liquid violate voluntary safety standard ASTM F3363-19. The standard is designed to prevent pool fires where flames burn along the surface of pooled or spilled flammable liquids, and flame-jetting incidents where flames erupt from liquid fuel containers.
Igniting pooled alcohol or other liquid fuel in a fire pit’s open container creates an uncontrollable pool fire that can suddenly produce larger, hotter flames spreading beyond the product. The CPSC urges consumers to immediately stop using and dispose of these products, and for sellers to stop selling them.
CPSC Warning and Death Toll
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a consumer alert on December 19, 2024 warning consumers not to buy or use fire pits meant to burn pooled alcohol or other liquid fuel. These products are also sold as tabletop fire pits, fire pots, miniature fireplaces, or portable fires for indoor use.
Since 2019, liquid-burning fire pits have been associated with two deaths and at least 60 serious burn injuries. The CPSC warning followed the agency’s prior warning to stop using FLIKRFIRE Tabletop Fireplaces and the recall of Colsen-branded tabletop fire pits for identical hazards.
Defendants’ Failure to Warn
The lawsuit alleges that defendants Macy’s, Brookstone, and Southern Telecom possessed purchase and customer records sufficient to identify and contact the Kendalls. Despite consumer product safety regulators issuing recalls concerning the Brookstone-branded tabletop fire pit or substantially similar products, none of the defendants notified the Kendalls of the recall or warned them to discontinue use.
The defendants’ failure to provide post-sale recall notice deprived the Kendalls of the opportunity to remove the dangerous product from use before the explosion occurred. The lawsuit argues this failure constitutes willful and wanton disregard for consumer safety.
Legal Claims
The complaint asserts five causes of action against Macy’s, Brookstone, and Southern Telecom. Strict products liability claims allege the fire pit was defectively designed and manufactured, and was unreasonably dangerous to consumers beyond what ordinary users would expect.
Failure to warn claims contend the defendants failed to provide adequate warnings or instructions regarding the serious risk of explosions from residual vapors or heat—risks that were not obvious to reasonable consumers purchasing novelty decorative fire pits. Negligence counts assert the defendants breached their duty to design, manufacture, and sell safe products through defective design, inadequate testing, insufficient warnings, and improper distribution.
Breach of warranty claims allege the defendants impliedly warranted the fire pit was merchantable and fit for ordinary use, when in fact it exploded during normal operation. Chase Kendall also asserts a loss of consortium claim seeking damages for loss of companionship, society, affection, and services of his wife due to her severe injuries.
Damages Sought
The plaintiffs seek compensatory damages for Michelle Kendall’s medical expenses, ongoing burn treatment and rehabilitation, pain and suffering, permanent scarring and disfigurement, lost wages, and diminished quality of life. The lawsuit also requests exemplary damages permitted under Michigan law for the defendants’ willful and wanton misconduct, including their failure to notify consumers of known recalls.
Chase Kendall seeks damages for loss of consortium including the deprivation of his wife’s companionship and services during her recovery from catastrophic burn injuries. The complaint requests attorneys’ fees, costs of litigation, and pre- and post-judgment interest.
Contact an Attorney
If you or a loved one suffered burn injuries from a tabletop fire pit explosion or flame-jetting incident, contact an experienced product liability attorney immediately. Liquid-burning fire pits sold by Brookstone, Macy’s, Five Below, Amazon, and other retailers have caused dozens of serious injuries and deaths nationwide.
Time limits apply to filing product liability lawsuits, and critical evidence including the fire pit, packaging, medical records, and photographs must be preserved. An attorney can investigate whether your fire pit violated safety standards, determine if recalls were issued but not communicated to you, pursue compensation from manufacturers and retailers who sold defective products, and hold all responsible parties accountable for distributing dangerous devices that cause life-altering burn injuries.
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