Led by Board-Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyer David P. Willis
At first glance, a tabletop fire pit or patio flame bowl seems harmless — a decorative, relaxing glow for backyard gatherings with friends and neighbors. But across the United States, hundreds of people have been severely burned by these small devices when invisible flames and explosive fuel vapors turned a moment of warmth into catastrophe.
At FirePitLawsuits.com, we investigate alcohol and ethanol fire pit explosions that have left children, parents, and bystanders scarred for life. Many of these incidents could have been prevented with simple design changes or basic flame-arrestor safety features.
If you or someone you love was burned, you may be entitled to file a fire pit injury lawsuit and seek compensation for your injuries, medical costs, and long-term recovery.
Manufacturers have flooded the market with small ethanol- and alcohol-fueled fire pits, often described as “eco-safe,” “odorless,” or “indoor-friendly.” Many are imported products sold online with little or no safety testing.
The problem is not the concept — it’s the design. These devices rely on liquid fuels that ignite invisibly and can flash back into the bottle when vapors are exposed to heat. This phenomenon, known as flame jetting, can launch a stream of burning alcohol several feet into the air.
In real-world cases, the result is horrifying. Flames erupt across tables, ignite clothing, and engulf anyone nearby — often children or seated guests at eye level.
Our investigations have found why the same root causes of fire pit explosions are repeated across countless fire pit injury cases:
When fuel vapors ignite, they behave like a blowtorch. A thin stream of alcohol vapor can shoot out with enough force to ignite clothing several feet away. Victims often report hearing a “whoosh” or “pop” — then realizing they’re on fire.
These are not “user mistakes.” They are the predictable results of defective design and ignored fire safety standards.
Many fire pits are sold with or marketed for use with rubbing alcohol or bio-ethanol fuel bottles. These containers are made of thin plastic and lack any flame barrier.
When vapors inside ignite, the bottle can burst or send burning liquid outward like a flamethrower.
These explosions happen in seconds — sometimes while the bottle is still in the user’s hand. Victims have suffered third-degree burns to the face, arms, and torso, often requiring multiple surgeries.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has identified flashback ignition as one of the leading causes of fatal home burn injuries since 2019.
The physical and emotional toll of these accidents is immense. Victims often suffer:
Many families describe the recovery process as a second ordeal — months of pain, multiple graft surgeries, and anxiety about scarring or appearance.
These actual fire pit fires and explosions form the foundation of current national litigation and are documented in our real fire pit accidents page, which tracks real incidents across the U.S.
Fire pot or mini fire pits sold through online companies like Amazon, Walmart and Wayfair have faced growing lawsuits over unsafe fire pits sold through their platforms. Some devices were recalled after dozens of people were burned — but only after years of sales and reports of explosions. Even when a recall is issued, that does not erase corporate responsibility. Victims injured before or after a recall can still file a fire pit lawsuit for compensation.
Our firm has investigated numerous models that failed to meet the ASTM F3363-19 voluntary standard or were marketed with deceptive “safe for indoor use” claims.
Preserving the physical evidence from an explosion is critical. Even a melted or shattered fire pit can reveal design flaws that caused ignition or pressurization.
Keep every part of the product:
Early legal investigation can confirm whether the fire pit was recalled, sold under another brand, or used an unsafe ethanol formula. Our team works with fire scientists, engineers, and chemical experts to reconstruct the cause of each explosion.
Under U.S. product liability law, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers have a duty to sell products that are reasonably safe for their intended use. When that duty is broken, they can be held legally accountable for the injuries caused.
Compensation in a fire pit injury lawsuit may include:
If your accident involved an alcohol or ethanol-fueled tabletop fire pit, you may have a valid claim. Visit our page on how to file a fire pit lawsuit for details about deadlines, investigation steps, and how claims are handled.
Attorney David P. Willis, Board-Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law, has spent more than 40 years representing butane and propane explosions and burn victims nationwide. His investigations have uncovered repeated design failures — often ignored by manufacturers who chose to prioritize aesthetics over safety. In many cases, the hard work of product defect lawyer, Willis has led to change in formulas and even the cessation of production of some dangerous products
Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for victims of defective products, gas explosions, and fuel-related fires and other injury causing accidents. Every fire pit case begins with a detailed product examination, forensic analysis, and an evaluation of any related CPSC recall or ASTM standard violation.
If you or a loved one suffered burns in a tabletop or ethanol-fueled fire pit explosion, call 1-800-447-FIRE or request a Free Case Review today.
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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.
