Board-Certified Trial Lawyer | Former Attorney for the Supreme Court of Texas | Licensed in Texas & New York
Dozens of manufacturers have sold tabletop fire pits, alcohol fire pits, ethanol burners, and gel fuels that later caused flashback explosions, flame jetting, and catastrophic burn injuries. Some of these companies have been named in lawsuits, others have been subject to official CPSC recalls, and several continue to market nearly identical products under new names.
This page identifies some the major brands, retailers, and fuel manufacturers involved in fire pit explosion incidents and recalls across the U.S. Listing these companies serves an important purpose: it helps victims recognize which product caused their injury and understand that the danger is known and preventable.
Ethanol and gel-fueled tabletop fire pits are often marketed as eco-friendly, smokeless, or safe for indoor use. In reality, many were sold without the most basic safety features, including flame arrestors, vapor containment, and tip-over protection.
As a result, these products have caused serious injuries and have drawn the attention of federal regulators and burn lawyers nationwide. Common issues include:
1. Colsen Tabletop Fire Pits
The Colsen recall confirmed that its ethanol-fueled units could ignite vapors invisibly, creating torch-like fireballs that caused hospital-level burns. Despite this, similar lookalike models remain for sale online under alternate brand names.
2. Five Below Tabletop Fire Pits
The CPSC found that the Five Below products could ignite spilled alcohol fuel, creating sudden jets of fire. The recall notice stated the risk of “serious burn injury and property damage from flame jetting and fire spreading hazards.”
3. Real Flame Company, LLC
Real Flame sold multiple lines of gel-fueled tabletop fireplaces and outdoor burners. The company faced litigation after consumers suffered flashback burns while refueling. Lawsuits alleged failure to provide flame arrestors or adequate warning labels.
4. Bond Manufacturing Co.
Bond Manufacturing marketed outdoor fire bowls and decorative tabletop devices fueled by pourable ethanol or gel fuel. CPSC documents show the company recalled thousands of units after reports of explosions and flame jetting.
5. NAPA Home & Garden, Inc.
This early recall set the foundation for modern ethanol safety standards. Over 460,000 bottles of fuel were withdrawn from the market after numerous burn incidents, some requiring hospitalization.
6. TIKI Brand / Lamplight Farms, Inc.
TIKI’s Clean Burn™ ethanol-based fuels were promoted as low-smoke alternatives for patio use. Lawsuits claim that “refueling flash ignition” and “flame invisibility” caused devastating injuries.
7. SunJel Company
SunJel was among the first brands to face allegations that its gel fuel lacked vapor-control design and proper consumer warnings.
8. Smart Solar, Inc.
Smart Solar’s decorative fire pots used liquid gel fuel that could spill or ignite when refueled. Lawsuits alleged a design defect and failure to warn users of invisible flame hazards.
9. BirdBrain, Inc.
BirdBrain sold high-end decorative fire products that allegedly caused flashback ignitions due to defective spout design and lack of vapor arrestors.
10. Amazon.com Services, LLC
Recent litigation argues that Amazon may be held liable as a “distributor” when it fulfills or sells defective fire pit products through its marketplace, even from third-party vendors. Courts are increasingly receptive to these claims in burn injury cases.
In addition to manufacturers, major retailers have sold private-labeled ethanol and gel-fuel products that mimic recalled designs. These include discount chains, home décor stores, and online marketplaces that failed to vet product safety or check compliance with ASTM standards.
Retailers currently under scrutiny for past or ongoing product sales include:
Victims who purchased through these retailers may still have viable claims, even if the product’s brand name was obscure or generic.
Analysis of CPSC recalls and expert reports shows that nearly every brand shared the same design defects:
These failures led to dozens of similar explosions, confirming that the hazard was industry-wide — not isolated.
Listing these brands of tabletop fire pits and alcohol bases fuels and real incidents helps others to avoid being injured and assists new victims to identify the exact product and fuel involved in their explosion. It also establishes:
Attorney David P. Willis and his legal team maintain a database of recalled and defective ethanol-fueled fire pits for use in litigation and investigation nationwide. As we obtain more fire pit, fuel and products, we will be supplementing this website.
You can check the CPSC database or contact our office. Even if your product is not officially recalled, it may share the same defective design.
Yes. Retailers and distributors can be held liable for selling defective or dangerous products, even if they didn’t manufacture them.
Keep the remaining parts, packaging, and any photos. Investigators can often trace the product to its original importer or brand family.
Yes. Even if the product was made overseas, U.S. importers and retailers are legally accountable for injuries caused here.
Do not discard any bottles, caps, or debris. Photograph the scene and contact an attorney immediately for expert evidence preservation.
David P. Willis is a Board-Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyer (Texas Board of Legal Specialization, since 1988) and a former attorney for the Supreme Court of Texas.
Licensed in Texas and New York, he represents victims nationwide through association with local attorneys. With decades of experience in product defect and explosion litigation, he helps clients recover compensation for medical costs, disfigurement, lost income, and emotional trauma.
If you were injured by a Colsen, Five Below, Real Flame, Bond, or any ethanol-fueled fire pit, you are not alone. These products have been linked to verified CPSC recalls and nationwide lawsuits.
Your case can help hold negligent manufacturers accountable and prevent further tragedies.
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FirePitLawsuits.com – National investigations of alcohol-fueled fire pit explosions and burn injuries. * Willis is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law (since 1988), certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.Representing injured clients nationwide through association with local attorneys in compliance with each state’s bar rules. Licensed in Texas and New York. Willis Law Firm, 5005 Riverway Drive, Suite 160, Houston, Tx. – Principal Place of Business – All meetings by appointment only.
Acknowledgment & Thank You – Certain Safety Images and Public-Education Materials, Alerts, and Warnings referenced on this site are courtesy of Health Canada and the CPSC.
