Board-Certified Trial Lawyer • Former Attorney for the Supreme Court of Texas • Licensed in Texas & New York
Across the United States, major retailers such as Amazon, Walmart, and Five Below have sold dangerous tabletop and patio-style fire pits fueled by ethanol or gel fuels that later exploded, leaving victims with devastating burns and scars. Many of these same products were later recalled by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)—but not before hundreds were injured in flame-jetting explosions.
Many of these explosions involved invisible ethanol flames or flash-back ignition events, similar to those described in our Flame Jetting Explosions & Fires page. To understand how ethanol and alcohol-fueled devices ignite so violently, see Ethanol Fire Pit Burn Injuries, which explains why vapors and flash fires spread so quickly.
At FirePitLawsuits.com, Attorney David P. Willis helps victims nationwide pursue justice from retailers and online marketplaces that profit from defective or recalled products. Mr. 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, with more than 40 years of experience handling catastrophic burn and explosion cases.
Many defective ethanol fire pits were sold by:
Most consumers assumed these platforms verified product safety. In reality, many lacked flame arrestors or vapor-control systems required under ASTM F3363-19 Fire Pit Safety Standards.
Yes. Under American product-liability law, any company that sells, distributes, or profits from a defective product can be liable for resulting injuries— not just the manufacturer. That includes e-commerce giants when they store, fulfill, or promote dangerous items. Even though overseas manufacturers may be difficult to locate, U.S. retailers and marketplaces can still be sued when their actions help place defective products into commerce.
Retailers and marketplaces may be responsible when they:
Retailers cannot escape accountability by calling themselves “platforms.” When they profit from, ship, or promote a dangerous product, they step into the chain of distribution—and share legal responsibility.
Court Rulings Expanding Amazon’s Responsibility
Courts in California, Pennsylvania, and Texas have ruled that Amazon can be treated as a distributor under product-liability law when it stores, ships, or fulfills orders for defective items.
When a tabletop fire pit explodes and causes burns, Amazon cannot claim neutrality. If it stored the item, processed payment, or shipped it directly, it placed a dangerous product into commerce.
Amazon’s Role in Fire Pit and Fuel Sales
Amazon has hosted hundreds of ethanol-fueled devices and pourable gel fuels, many mimicking recalled designs from Real Flame, Bond Manufacturing, or Colsen. If your purchase matches a prior Colsen Fire Pit Recall, preserve the unit for testing.
Consumers often believe Amazon has vetted these products, but Amazon does not test or certify fire pits before sale. When explosions occur, victims suffer severe burns and flash fires — typical of the incidents described in our Ethanol Fire Pit Burn Injuries.
Like Amazon, Walmart and its Marketplace host third-party vendors selling imported ethanol burners. Walmart also sells private-label models similar to previously recalled units.
Examples of Retail Failures
CPSC investigators later confirmed these hazards through formal Fire Pit Recalls and Safety Warnings, highlighting how online marketplaces failed to remove dangerous listings.
Under state law, Walmart and other retailers may face claims for:
In September 2025, the CPSC recalled 66,000 tabletop fire pits sold exclusively at Five Below. The recall (CPSC No. 25-212) confirmed a “flame-jetting and fire hazard.”
Official CPSC Recall Notice – Five Below 2025
Despite this warning, many consumers continued using the devices, showing how slow retailer recall responses lead to preventable tragedies.
Retailers must immediately:
Failure to comply violates federal law and the retailer’s duty of care. Each post-recall sale can form the basis of a separate negligence claim.
To build a strong case, victims should preserve:
After an explosion, it’s vital to follow our Preserving Evidence After a Fire Pit Fire checklist before discarding any debris or packaging.
Attorney Willis’s team works with forensic engineers and recall experts to trace each product’s sale and defect path.
Victims may recover compensation for:
If you purchased a fire pit, ethanol burner, or gel-fuel device from Amazon, Walmart, Five Below, or another retailer and were injured, you may be entitled to compensation.
Our legal team will:
For a broader view of explosion scenarios, visit our Fire Pit Accident Lawsuits to see how defective designs and fuels lead to burns and injuries and a detailed discussion pf your rights to filing a product defect lawsuit
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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.
