Northwest Fire Pit Lawsuit Update: Injuries, Recall Status, and Legal Options

The Northwest tabletop fireplace places liquid bioethanol and an open flame on tables, counters, patios, and similar close-contact surfaces. Refilling, spilled fuel, faint remaining flames, hot glass or metal, burner design, fuel capacity, and warning adequacy may become important after an accident.

The CPSC recalls and warnings discussed below involve other manufacturers or the broader liquid-fuel fire-pit category unless specifically stated otherwise. Anyone injured should preserve the Northwest fireplace, burner, snuffer, fuel container, instructions, purchase records, photographs, and medical documentation.

Quick Facts

• Northwest is specifically listed among tabletop fire pit brands under nationwide attorney investigation for burn-injury claims.
• Home Depot identifies Northwest model 80-BIOFP-1-HD as a rectangular tabletop fireplace fueled by bioethanol.
• The cited product uses steel, tempered glass, and a wool wick and produces approximately 2,000 BTUs of heat.
• Potential claims may depend on refilling, fuel containment, flame visibility, warnings, injuries, damages, and preserved evidence.

Latest Northwest Fire Pit Legal and Safety Developments

July 2026

• July 16, 2026 – CPSC warned consumers to immediately stop using Houswise Tabletop Fire Pits because pooled or spilled alcohol can create uncontrolled pool fires and refilling can cause flame jetting. CPSC reported more than two dozen incidents and seven injuries, including third-degree burns; the warning involves Houswise products rather than Northwest [1]

May 2026

• May 2026 – Attorneys investigating tabletop fire pit burn injuries reported that they were actively reviewing individual claims nationwide and specifically listed Northwest among the brands under investigation. The investigation does not establish that a Northwest product is defective or that a manufacturer, seller, or retailer is legally liable [2]
• May 7, 2026 – CPSC warned consumers to stop using Northlight Bio Ethanol Portable Tabletop Fireplaces because pooled alcohol and refilling could cause uncontrolled fires and flame jetting. This warning concerns Northlight products and provides comparator safety context rather than a Northwest-specific regulatory finding [3]

December 2024

• December 19, 2024 – CPSC warned consumers about certain alcohol or other liquid-burning fire pits that require fuel to be poured into an open container and ignited where it pools. CPSC reported two deaths and at least 60 injuries involving hazardous products in this category since 2019 [4]

What Is a Northwest Fire Pit?

This page concerns Northwest-branded portable bioethanol tabletop fireplaces rather than similarly named large wood-burning fire pits sold by unrelated businesses.

Home Depot identifies the Northwest Bio Ethanol Tabletop Fire Pit as model 80-BIOFP-1-HD. The rectangular unit measures approximately 14 inches long, 7.25 inches wide, and 8 inches high [5]

The product uses steel, tempered-glass panels, and a wool wick. It is marketed as a portable ventless fireplace for indoor or outdoor use.

What Fuel Does the Northwest Tabletop Fire Pit Use?

The Northwest product is designed to burn bioethanol. Home Depot specifically states that the fuel is not included with the fireplace.

The liquid fuel feeds a burner positioned between tempered-glass panels. The fireplace does not require a chimney because it is marketed as a ventless product.

The actual bioethanol container, product instructions, fuel quantity, burner condition, and refill procedure may become important evidence after a fire or burn accident.

What Are the Northwest Fire Pit’s Main Product Features?

The Northwest rectangular tabletop fireplace produces approximately 2,000 BTUs and is advertised as capable of warming an area of up to about 250 square feet.

The product provides a 360-degree view of the flame through transparent tempered-glass panels. An included snuffer tool is intended to adjust or extinguish the flame.

The unit weighs approximately 3.79 pounds, making it portable enough to move between indoor rooms, patios, porches, and other tabletop locations.

Why Can a Portable Tabletop Fireplace Present Risks?

A portable fireplace places real flame and flammable fuel close to users and surrounding materials. Clothing, napkins, tablecloths, furniture, decorations, food, curtains, cushions, or other items may be positioned nearby.

Potential accident mechanisms can include direct flame contact, fuel spillover, unexpectedly high flames, heated glass or metal, ignition of surrounding material, or refilling before the burner is completely extinguished and cool.

For liquid-fuel designs, CPSC has repeatedly identified uncontrolled pool fires and flame jetting as particularly serious hazards.
Those same hazards have led to recalls involving alcohol-burning tabletop fire pits.

What Is Flame Jetting?

Flame jetting can occur when liquid fuel is poured toward a fire pit while a small flame remains inside or near the burner. Alcohol flames may be difficult to see in bright lighting.

A remaining flame can ignite vapor inside or near the fuel container, causing flame and burning liquid to project toward the person refilling the fireplace or nearby bystanders.

Because Northwest model 80-BIOFP-1-HD uses liquid bioethanol, investigators may examine whether refilling, residual flame, burner temperature, or the design of the fuel container contributed to a particular incident.

How Can an Uncontrolled Pool Fire Develop?

A pool fire can develop when liquid fuel spills, leaks, or overflows beyond the intended burner and burns across another surface.

Flaming alcohol can move across a tabletop, counter, flooring, clothing, furniture, cushions, paper products, or other nearby material.

Tempered-glass panels may shield parts of the flame, but they do not necessarily prevent liquid fuel from escaping beneath or around the burner if a spill occurs.

Why the Glass Panels May Matter

The Northwest tabletop fireplace uses two transparent tempered-glass panels to provide a broad view of the flame.

Glass may help reduce direct contact with portions of the fire, but it can become hot during operation and does not eliminate hazards associated with spilled fuel or an unexpectedly large flame.

After an accident, investigators may inspect the glass panels, supports, steel frame, burner, wick, snuffer, and burn patterns to determine what occurred.

Why the Wool Wick and Burner May Matter

The cited Northwest product uses a wool wick as part of its combustion system. The wick and burner affect how the bioethanol is retained and burned.

Investigators may examine whether fuel remained in the burner or wick after the visible flame appeared extinguished and whether the product had cooled before additional fuel was added.

The condition of the original burner and wick may therefore be important evidence and should not be altered or discarded after an incident when safe preservation is possible.

Why Portability Can Affect Exposure

The Northwest fire pit weighs less than four pounds and is promoted for indoor and outdoor use. That portability allows consumers to place it on dining tables, coffee tables, counters, patios, covered porches, and other surfaces.

Different locations may create different clearance, ventilation, stability, and proximity conditions around the flame.

Photographs of where the fireplace was positioned can help establish nearby furniture, combustible materials, fuel containers, and the distance between the flame and people.

Other Tabletop Fire Pit Recalls and Warnings

CPSC actions involving other manufacturers show the kinds of liquid-fuel hazards that have resulted in recalls and stop-use warnings. These incidents should not be attributed to Northwest.

In October 2024, CPSC recalled about 89,500 Colsen fire pits after receiving 31 reports of flame jetting or flames escaping from their containers. Nineteen burn injuries were reported, including incidents involving third-degree burns, surgery, loss of function, and permanent disfigurement [6]

CPSC later issued broader warnings and 2026 stop-use notices involving Houswise and Northlight products. Together, those actions demonstrate why liquid-fuel containment, burner configuration, refilling procedures, and flame visibility deserve close attention.
CPSC later issued stop-use warnings for Northlight liquid-fuel tabletop fireplaces and Houswise liquid-fuel tabletop fireplaces involving similar open-liquid-fuel hazards.

What Injuries Can Tabletop Fire Pit Accidents Cause?

Tabletop fire accidents can cause first-, second-, or third-degree burns depending on the intensity and duration of exposure.

Serious burns may require emergency evaluation, hospitalization, wound care, surgery, skin grafting, rehabilitation, or other treatment documented by medical professionals.

Burn injuries reported in the Houswise, Northlight, Colsen, or other regulatory actions should not be described as Northwest-specific injuries.

How May a Northwest Fire Pit Accident Occur?

A potential Northwest fire pit accident may involve spilled bioethanol, refilling before a flame is fully extinguished, direct flame contact, a hot glass panel, a hot burner, or ignition of material positioned near the fireplace.

The portable design may also allow the product to be placed on narrow, unstable, crowded, or combustible surfaces.

The actual cause should be reconstructed from the Northwest product, fuel bottle, instructions, photographs, videos, witness accounts, and physical evidence rather than assumed from an accident involving another manufacturer.

Who May Be Affected?

Potentially affected people include consumers injured while filling, lighting, using, extinguishing, refilling, moving, or sitting near a Northwest bioethanol tabletop fireplace.

The injured person does not necessarily need to own or operate the product. Guests, children, relatives, roommates, and other bystanders may also be exposed if flame or burning fuel travels beyond the burner.

Property owners may suffer additional losses if fire damages tables, furniture, flooring, rugs, curtains, clothing, electronics, patios, or other nearby property.

Who May Be Liable?

Potentially responsible parties may include a manufacturer, importer, distributor, retailer, component supplier, fuel supplier, or another business involved in placing the product into commerce.

Potential legal theories may include defective design, manufacturing defects, inadequate warnings, negligence, breach of warranty, or other claims permitted under applicable law.

The nationwide attorney investigation and CPSC actions involving other products do not automatically establish liability for Northwest. Product identification, defect evidence, warnings, causation, injuries, damages, and governing law must be evaluated individually.

What Is the Current Northwest Fire Pit Lawsuit Status?

Northwest is specifically named among tabletop fire pit brands being reviewed in a nationwide attorney investigation involving burn-injury claims.

An attorney investigation is not equivalent to a court finding, certified class action, established product defect, or determination of liability. Individual claims require evidence connecting the specific Northwest fireplace and accident to the claimed injuries and damages.

The investigation nevertheless provides a Northwest-specific legal development rather than relying entirely on regulatory actions involving unrelated brands.

Do I Qualify?

• Were you or a loved one seriously burned while using or sitting near a Northwest bioethanol tabletop fire pit?
• Did the incident involve refilling, spilled fuel, a faint remaining flame, hot glass or metal, or fire spreading beyond the burner?
• Did you require emergency treatment, hospitalization, surgery, skin grafting, or other significant medical care?
• Do you have the fire pit, fuel bottle, snuffer, packaging, purchase records, photographs, or medical documentation?

An individualized legal review can determine whether product identification, the accident mechanism, causation, damages, available defendants, evidence, and applicable filing deadlines support a potential claim.

What Evidence Should I Preserve?

Preserve the Northwest fireplace, burner, wool wick, tempered-glass panels, steel frame, snuffer tool, fuel container, packaging, instructions, and damaged components whenever they can be stored safely.

Save Home Depot or other retailer order histories, receipts, shipping records, screenshots, seller information, photographs, videos, and communications concerning the purchase.

Medical records, injury photographs, damaged clothing, fire reports, witness information, and property-damage photographs may also help establish what occurred.

Why Product Identification Matters

The relevant product discussed here is the Northwest-branded rectangular Bio Ethanol Tabletop Fire Pit sold as model 80-BIOFP-1-HD.

That product should not be confused with unrelated businesses using “Northwest Fire Pits” in their company names or with conventional wood-burning outdoor fire pits.

Model numbers, photographs, retailer receipts, packaging, dimensions, and the physical fireplace can help establish whether a consumer owned the Northwest bioethanol product addressed by this article.

Do I Have a Northwest Fire Pit Lawsuit?

If you or a loved one suffered serious burns involving a Northwest bioethanol tabletop fire pit, you may have legal options. Contact Schmidt & Clark for a free case review.

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Important Legal Actions or Recalls

Event	Month/Year	Type	Status	Source	Notes
Houswise fire pit warning	July 2026	Consumer safety warning	Immediate stop-use	CPSC	Comparable liquid-fuel products
Northwest claims investigation	May 2026	Attorney investigation	Claims under review	Top Class Actions	Northwest specifically listed
Northlight fireplace warning	May 2026	Consumer safety warning	Immediate stop-use	CPSC	Comparable bioethanol products
Liquid-fire-pit alert	December 2024	Consumer safety alert	Category-wide warning	CPSC	Two deaths reported

Potential Compensation

Potential compensation may include emergency treatment, hospitalization, burn-center care, surgery, skin grafting, medication, rehabilitation, scar treatment, and future medical expenses.

Additional damages may include lost wages, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, permanent scarring, disfigurement, property damage, and other documented losses available under applicable law.

Compensation amounts vary by case. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

Legal Process Overview

Free case review: The initial review may address the Northwest model, retailer, fuel used, burner configuration, accident sequence, injuries, property damage, and available evidence.

Investigation. Attorneys may examine the fireplace, burner, wick, glass panels, bioethanol container, instructions, purchase records, photographs, medical evidence, and witness accounts.

Filing. A lawsuit may be filed when available evidence and governing law support one or more claims. Filing deadlines vary by jurisdiction.

Discovery/negotiation: The parties may exchange product records, warning materials, testing information, sales documents, medical evidence, photographs, expert opinions, and testimony while discussing possible resolution.

Resolution: A case may conclude through settlement, dismissal, court ruling, or trial. No outcome or timeline can be guaranteed.

Frequently Asked Questions About Northwest Fire Pits

Do I Have a Northwest Fire Pit Lawsuit?

A potential claim may warrant review if a Northwest bioethanol tabletop fireplace was involved in a documented burn or fire accident. Eligibility depends on product identification, causation, damages, available evidence, and applicable law.

What Evidence May Support a Northwest Fire Pit Lawsuit?

Evidence may include the fireplace, burner, wool wick, glass panels, snuffer, fuel container, packaging, instructions, retailer records, photographs, medical documentation, and witness statements. The original bioethanol container may help establish the fuel involved.

Is Northwest Part of a Tabletop Fire Pit Injury Investigation?

Yes. Northwest is specifically listed among brands being reviewed in a nationwide tabletop fire pit burn-injury investigation. The investigation does not establish a product defect or liability in an individual case.

What Fuel Does the Northwest Fire Pit Use?

Home Depot identifies the Northwest rectangular tabletop fireplace as a bioethanol-fueled product. Consumers should preserve the actual fuel container and instructions associated with their fireplace.

What Is Northwest Model 80-BIOFP-1-HD?

It is a rectangular ventless tabletop fireplace measuring approximately 14 by 7.25 by 8 inches. The product uses steel, tempered glass, and a wool wick and produces approximately 2,000 BTUs.

What Is Flame Jetting?

Flame jetting can occur when liquid fuel is poured while a flame remains inside or near a burner. Ignition can travel toward the fuel container and propel flame or burning liquid toward users or bystanders.

Have Other Tabletop Fire Pits Been Recalled?

Yes. CPSC recalled about 89,500 Colsen fire pits after 31 reports of flame jetting or escaping flames resulted in 19 burn injuries. CPSC has also issued later warnings involving Houswise and Northlight products.

What Should I Do After a Northwest Fire Pit Accident?

Seek appropriate medical care and avoid cleaning, testing, refilling, repairing, or discarding the fireplace when safe preservation is possible. Photograph and preserve the product, fuel container, purchase information, injuries, and surrounding property damage.

References

1. https://www.cpsc.gov/Warnings/2026/CPSC-Warns-Consumers-to-Stop-Using-Houswise-Tabletop-Fire-Pits-Immediately-Due-to-Risk-of-Serious-Burn-Injury-or-Death-from-Flame-Jetting-and-Fire-Hazards
2. https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/lawsuit-news/tabletop-fire-pit-burn-injury-lawsuit/
3. 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
4. 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
5. https://www.homedepot.com/p/329641628
6. https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2025/Colsen-Recalls-Fire-Pits-Due-to-Risk-of-Serious-Burn-Injury-from-Flame-Jetting-and-Fire-Spreading-Hazards