About HOTEBIKE Fire Pits
HOTEBIKE sells an extensive lineup of tabletop fire pit and outdoor fireplace products at Home Depot and HomeDepot.com spanning both solid-fuel and alcohol-burning designs. Among its ethanol-burning models are a 4.5-inch cube portable ventless ethanol tabletop fire pit (Model HD-JB-FB020-FZ), a 13.7-inch bio-ethanol ventless fireplace in glass and black metal (Model HD-JB-FB008-FZ), and a 13.7-inch bio-ethanol tabletop fire pit in glass and metal (Model HD-JB-FB009-FZ) — all marketed for both indoor and outdoor use.
These alcohol-burning models use bioethanol fuel in an open burner container — the same design the CPSC has linked to two deaths and more than 60 serious burn injuries since 2019, and the same design that violates voluntary safety standard ASTM F3363-19.
Why the Home Depot Shelf Matters
Most of the tabletop fire pit brands investigated in connection with burn injury claims are sold exclusively through Amazon or third-party online storefronts — platforms where any seller can list a product with minimal vetting. HOTEBIKE’s presence on Home Depot’s shelves and website is different: Home Depot is a major brick-and-mortar retailer with established supplier relationships and product review processes.
That distribution channel matters legally because Home Depot — like any retailer — can face product liability exposure for selling a product that regulators have declared dangerous [1]. A consumer who purchased a HOTEBIKE ethanol fire pit from a Home Depot store or HomeDepot.com trusted that the product had been vetted by a reputable retailer.
The Hazard the Retailer Doesn’t Warn About
Bioethanol and liquid alcohol — the fuels HOTEBIKE’s tabletop models burn — produce a flame that is nearly colorless and nearly invisible, particularly in outdoor or ambient lighting conditions. A user who cannot see that flame cannot know whether the fire pit is still burning before attempting to add more fuel.
That invisible flame is what causes flame jetting — the explosive event in which pouring fresh fuel near a residual flame produces a sudden fireball that can travel 15 feet or more and cause third-degree burns in under one second. The product pages on HomeDepot.com do not adequately communicate this risk to consumers making purchase decisions.
Deaths, Injuries, and Legal Accountability
In December 2024, the CPSC issued a sweeping consumer alert calling all alcohol-burning tabletop fire pits “extremely dangerous” and urging consumers to immediately stop using and dispose of them [1]. In June 2024, two people died when a FLIKRFIRE tabletop fireplace was refueled while a residual flame remained, triggering a fatal flame jetting event [2].
Lawsuits have been filed against manufacturers, importers, and retail platforms across the country. Under product liability law, retailers that sell defective products may be held liable alongside manufacturers — regardless of whether the retailer designed or manufactured the product.
Can I File a Lawsuit?
Consumers who purchased a HOTEBIKE ethanol tabletop fire pit at Home Depot or HomeDepot.com and suffered burn injuries may have significant legal options against the manufacturer, retailer, or both. A class action lawsuit could allow affected consumers 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/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