Published by These products are often sold as compact decorative fire bowls, tabletop fireplaces, s’mores fire pits, patio flame features, or indoor/outdoor ambiance products. Many use isopropyl alcohol, rubbing alcohol, ethanol, bioethanol, or similar liquid fuels.
Current legal status: Alcohol-burning fire pit injury claims are being evaluated primarily as product liability cases involving specific brands, sellers, warnings, fuel instructions, and injury facts. There is no single nationwide settlement covering all alcohol-burning fire pit injuries.
CPSC has warned consumers about certain liquid-burning fire pits and has announced recalls or stop-use warnings involving multiple tabletop fireplace products. The central safety concern is that open-container liquid-fuel designs may create flame-jetting and pool-fire hazards that can cause serious or fatal burns.
Quick Facts
- Alcohol-burning fire pits use liquid fuels such as isopropyl alcohol, ethanol, bioethanol, or rubbing alcohol.
- CPSC has linked liquid-burning fire pits to two deaths and at least 60 injuries since 2019.
- Major hazards include flame jetting, flash fire, fuel spillover, and uncontrolled pool fires.
- Injury claims may focus on product design, refueling instructions, warnings, online sales, and compliance with fire pit safety standards.
Table Of Contents
- Latest News & Updates on Alcohol Burning Fire Pit Lawsuits
- What Are Alcohol Burning Fire Pits?
- Reported Risks or Injuries
- How Does the Problem Occur, and Who May Be Liable?
- Who May Be Affected?
- Do I Qualify?
- Do I Have an Alcohol Burning Fire Pit Lawsuit?
- Important Legal Actions or Recalls
- Potential Compensation
- Legal Process Overview
- Frequently Asked Questions About Alcohol Burning Fire Pit Lawsuits
- What are alcohol-burning fire pits?
- Why are alcohol-burning fire pits dangerous?
- What is flame jetting?
- What is a pool fire?
- Are all alcohol-burning fire pits recalled?
- What injuries may support an alcohol-burning fire pit lawsuit?
- Can a bystander file a claim?
- What evidence should I save after a fire pit injury?
- References
Latest News & Updates on Alcohol Burning Fire Pit Lawsuits
May 2026
CPSC warned consumers to stop using Northlight Bio Ethanol Portable Tabletop Fireplaces immediately due to serious burn injury or death risks from flame jetting and fire hazards. The agency stated that the product requires consumers to pour bioethanol into an open container and ignite pooled fuel, creating hazards addressed by ASTM F3363-19 [1].
December 2024
CPSC issued a broader consumer alert warning people to stop using alcohol or other liquid-burning fire pits that require liquid fuel to be poured into an open container or bowl and ignited in the same place. The agency said these products can violate ASTM F3363-19 and have been associated with two deaths and at least 60 injuries since 2019 [2].
CPSC also urged consumers to stop using FLIKRFIRE Tabletop Fireplaces because the products can cause uncontrollable pool fires and flame-jetting hazards. The warning stated that the tabletop fireplaces are small decorative bowls or open containers that require consumers to pour isopropyl alcohol into the bowl and ignite the pooled alcohol [3].
October 2024
CPSC announced a recall of about 89,500 Colsen-branded fire pits after 31 reports of flame jetting or flames escaping from the concrete container. The recall reported 19 burn injuries, including third-degree burns over more than 40% of victims’ bodies and several cases involving surgery, burn treatment, disability, loss of function, or permanent disfigurement [4].
Lawsuit Context
Public reporting has described lawsuits filed after tabletop fire pit incidents allegedly caused severe burn injuries, including claims involving online-sold products and refueling-related flame eruptions. These filings show how alcohol-burning fire pit cases may turn on product design, seller identity, warnings, fuel instructions, and the sequence of the burn event [5].
The American Burn Association identifies flame burns as injuries caused by direct fire, flammable material ignition, or explosions. That medical context is important because alcohol-burning fire pit incidents may involve direct flame contact, burning liquid fuel, ignited clothing, or secondary fires [6].
What Are Alcohol Burning Fire Pits?
Alcohol-burning fire pits are portable flame products that use liquid fuel to create a decorative open flame. They may be sold as tabletop fire pits, mini fireplaces, concrete fire bowls, bioethanol burners, rubbing-alcohol fire pits, or s’mores fire pits.
Many are designed for close-range use on patios, balconies, dining tables, coffee tables, countertops, or outdoor gathering areas. Some are marketed for indoor/outdoor ambiance, smokeless flames, camping, entertaining, or roasting marshmallows.
The basic design often includes an open bowl, small reservoir, or burner cup where the consumer pours liquid fuel and lights it. That simple design can create serious risk if the product lacks proper barriers, fuel-control features, clear warnings, or safe refueling instructions.
Alcohol flames may be pale, blue, or difficult to see in daylight. A user may believe the flame has gone out and begin refueling while heat or a small flame remains inside the burner.
Reported Risks or Injuries
The most dangerous reported risks are flame jetting and pool fires. Flame jetting can occur when fire flashes back into a fuel container and propels burning liquid outward toward people nearby.
Pool fires involve liquid fuel burning across the surface of pooled or spilled fuel. Instead of staying inside the fire pit, the flame can spread across a table, patio surface, floor, clothing, or nearby objects.
These hazards can cause sudden, severe burns because the injured person may have little or no time to move away. In social settings, multiple people may be seated close to the product when the flame expands or jets outward.
Potential injuries include second-degree burns, third-degree burns, facial burns, hand and arm burns, chest burns, airway injuries, smoke inhalation, infection, nerve damage, permanent scarring, contractures, and disfigurement. Severe cases may require ambulance transport, burn-unit care, surgery, skin grafting, physical therapy, or long-term scar treatment.
How Does the Problem Occur, and Who May Be Liable?
The most common danger point is refueling. A consumer may add more liquid fuel after the visible flame appears to be out, but a hidden flame or hot ignition source can still ignite incoming fuel.
The problem can also occur if the fuel reservoir spills, leaks, tips, or allows burning fuel to escape. A small tabletop flame can become a spreading liquid fire when fuel moves outside the intended burn area.
A legal investigation may examine the burner shape, reservoir depth, fuel capacity, snuffer design, stability, labeling, instructions, marketing claims, and warnings. It may also consider whether the product was sold for indoor use, tabletop entertaining, s’mores, or family gatherings despite known refueling hazards.
Potentially liable parties may include the manufacturer, importer, online seller, distributor, marketplace, retailer, fuel supplier, or other companies involved in selling or promoting the product. Liability depends on product identity, defect evidence, warning adequacy, seller records, injury facts, and state law.
Who May Be Affected?
Consumers may be affected if they were burned while lighting, refueling, extinguishing, moving, cleaning, or sitting near an alcohol-burning fire pit. The injured person does not have to be the person who poured the fuel.
Bystanders, guests, children, and family members may be at risk because flame jetting can send burning liquid outward from the product. A person seated across a table may be injured even if they never touched the fire pit or fuel bottle.
These incidents often occur during ordinary home and social activities. Fire pits used for patio décor, dining tables, holiday gatherings, camping, balcony use, or s’mores can place people, clothing, furniture, napkins, and decorations within the burn zone.
Families may also be affected if the injury caused hospitalization, long-term disability, permanent scarring, or death. Fatal fire pit cases may involve wrongful death claims, depending on state law and the relationship between the victim and surviving family members.
Do I Qualify?
- Were you burned by an alcohol-burning fire pit, tabletop fireplace, concrete fire bowl, bioethanol burner, or mini flame product?
- Did the product use rubbing alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, ethanol, bioethanol, or another liquid fuel?
- Did the incident involve refueling, hidden flame, flame jetting, flash fire, spillover, or burning liquid fuel?
- Were you lighting, refueling, extinguishing, moving, cleaning, or sitting near the fire pit when the injury occurred?
- Did you suffer second-degree burns, third-degree burns, facial burns, hand burns, scarring, infection, surgery, skin grafting, or burn-unit treatment?
- Do you have the product, fuel bottle, instructions, packaging, online listing, purchase records, photos, videos, medical records, or witness statements?
Evidence can disappear quickly after a fire. If it is safe to do so, preserve the fire pit, fuel bottle, snuffer, packaging, instructions, burned clothing, photos, medical records, and fire department documents.
Do I Have an Alcohol Burning Fire Pit Lawsuit?
If you or a loved one was injured by an alcohol-burning fire pit, you may have legal options. Contact Schmidt & Clark for a free case review.
Important Legal Actions or Recalls
| Event | Month/Year | Type | Status | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPSC liquid-burning fire pit warning | December 2024 | Consumer safety warning | Active warning | CPSC warned against alcohol or liquid-burning fire pits that require fuel to be poured into and ignited in an open container | CPSC |
| FLIKRFIRE tabletop fireplace warning | December 2024 | Stop-use warning | Active warning | CPSC warned that FLIKRFIRE tabletop fireplaces can cause uncontrollable pool fires and flame jetting | CPSC |
| Colsen fire pit recall | October 2024 | Consumer product recall | Recall announced | CPSC reported 31 incidents and 19 burn injuries involving Colsen-branded fire pits | CPSC |
| Northlight bioethanol tabletop fireplace warning | May 2026 | Stop-use warning | Active warning | CPSC warned of serious burn injury or death risks from flame jetting and fire hazards | CPSC |
| Alcohol-burning fire pit lawsuits reported | 2025–2026 | Product liability litigation | Ongoing litigation context | Public reports describe lawsuits alleging serious burns from tabletop fire pits sold online | Legal Newsline |
Potential Compensation
Potential compensation may include emergency care, ambulance transport, hospitalization, burn-unit treatment, wound care, debridement, surgery, skin grafting, prescriptions, physical therapy, scar treatment, and future medical care.
Additional damages may include pain and suffering, permanent scarring, disfigurement, emotional distress, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, home-care needs, travel costs, property damage, and loss of enjoyment of life. In fatal cases, surviving family members may be able to pursue wrongful death damages depending on state law.
Compensation amounts vary by case. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Legal Process Overview
Step 1: Free case review. The review begins with the product name, seller, fuel type, injury date, burn mechanism, medical treatment, and available evidence. Attorneys may ask whether the incident involved refueling, hidden flame, spillover, flame jetting, or an uncontrolled pool fire.
Step 2: Evidence preservation and investigation. The fire pit, burner cup, fuel bottle, snuffer, instructions, packaging, online listing, burned clothing, photos, videos, medical records, and witness statements should be preserved where possible. Product experts may evaluate the design, fuel reservoir, flame path, warnings, and compliance with relevant standards.
Step 3: Filing the claim. If the evidence supports legal action, a claim may allege defective design, failure to warn, negligence, breach of warranty, marketplace liability, or other claims depending on state law. Filing deadlines vary by state.
Step 4: Discovery and negotiation. Discovery may involve seller records, marketplace documents, product testing, warning materials, incident reports, medical records, expert opinions, and witness testimony. Negotiation may focus on burn severity, future care, scarring, lost income, product identification, and responsibility among sellers, suppliers, and manufacturers.
Step 5: Resolution. A case may resolve through settlement, dismissal, court ruling, or trial. The result depends on product proof, defect evidence, injury documentation, expert analysis, damages, and legal defenses.
Frequently Asked Questions About Alcohol Burning Fire Pit Lawsuits
What are alcohol-burning fire pits?
Alcohol-burning fire pits are portable flame products that use rubbing alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, ethanol, bioethanol, or similar liquid fuel. They are often sold as tabletop fire pits, fire bowls, mini fireplaces, or decorative indoor/outdoor flame features.
Why are alcohol-burning fire pits dangerous?
They can be dangerous because liquid fuel can spill, pool, spread, or ignite suddenly. Alcohol flames can also be difficult to see, making refueling especially hazardous.
What is flame jetting?
Flame jetting happens when fire flashes back toward a fuel container and propels burning liquid outward. This can injure the person refueling the fire pit and nearby bystanders.
What is a pool fire?
A pool fire occurs when liquid fuel burns across the surface of pooled or spilled fuel. Instead of remaining inside the fire pit, flames can spread across a table, floor, patio, or clothing.
Are all alcohol-burning fire pits recalled?
No. Some specific products have been recalled or subject to stop-use warnings, but not every alcohol-burning fire pit has a public recall. A product does not need to be recalled for an injured person to request a legal review.
What injuries may support an alcohol-burning fire pit lawsuit?
Potential claims may involve second-degree burns, third-degree burns, facial burns, hand and arm burns, infection, skin grafting, burn-unit treatment, permanent scarring, disfigurement, or death. Medical records and injury photos are important evidence.
Can a bystander file a claim?
Possibly. Bystanders may be injured when flame jetting or burning liquid travels away from the fire pit. The injured person does not have to be the person who lit or refueled the product.
What evidence should I save after a fire pit injury?
Save the fire pit, burner cup, fuel bottle, instructions, packaging, online listing, photos, videos, burned clothing, medical records, fire reports, and witness statements. If the product is unsafe to keep, photograph it thoroughly before disposal.
References
- 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
- 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
- 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
- https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2025/Colsen-Recalls-Fire-Pits-Due-to-Risk-of-Serious-Burn-Injury-from-Flame-Jetting-and-Fire-Spreading-Hazards
- https://www.legalnewsline.com/florida-record/fla-couple-sues-amazon-others-over-defective-fire-pit/article_33b2ebae-926a-4584-935e-82a1de43b50c.html
- https://www.ameriburn.org/patients/common-types-of-burns