When a tabletop fire pit explodes in your vicinity, the devastation extends far beyond physical burns. These seemingly harmless decorative devices have caused catastrophic injuries to families across our state and throughout the country.
At The Louthian Law Firm, P.A., our South Carolina tabletop fire pit injury attorneys help burn survivors hold negligent manufacturers accountable. If you or a loved one suffered burns from a tabletop alcohol fire pit, you have legal rights under state law and we can help you pursue justice and financial recovery.
Multiple manufacturers and retailers including Colsen Fire Pits LLC, Amazon.com, Wayfair, Five Below, and FLÎKRfire are facing a growing wave of lawsuits related to tabletop fire pits that have caused severe burn injuries and deaths (at least 60 injuries and two deaths since 2019).
Understanding Tabletop Alcohol Fire Pits and Their Dangers
Tabletop alcohol fire pits are portable devices that burn liquid alcohol fuel to create ambiance. Marketed as safe for indoor and outdoor use, these products use isopropyl alcohol or bioethanol in open reservoirs. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has documented over 60 severe injuries and two deaths nationally since 2019, with several incidents occurring locally.
These devices violate voluntary safety standard ASTM F3363-19, which prohibits products allowing liquid fuel to pool in open containers. Despite clear safety violations, retailers across the state—from Charleston’s King Street shops to Greenville’s Main Street boutiques—continue selling these dangerous products.
Why These Fire Pits Can Pose Extreme Danger to People
Liquid alcohol burns at 1600°F with nearly invisible flames that users cannot properly see or gauge. This extreme temperature causes third-degree burns in less than one second—faster than human reaction time. The lightweight design makes units prone to tipping, especially on popular outdoor decks and patios where uneven surfaces are common.
Alcohol vapors, heavier than air, accumulate invisibly around the device. In a humid climate like South Carolina, these vapors can behave unpredictably, creating larger danger zones than in drier environments. Any ignition source triggers explosive flame jetting that shoots fire across rooms, endangering everyone present.
Common Burn Injuries Seen from Tabletop Fire Pits
Tabletop alcohol fire pits cause burns primarily through “flame jetting”—a violent explosion that occurs when invisible alcohol vapors accumulate and suddenly ignite. This typically happens during refueling when users pour fuel into a unit that is still hot or has flames in it. This ignites the fuel triggering an instant fireball.
Alcohol burns at 1600°F with nearly invisible flames, making the danger impossible to see. Units can also tip over, spilling flaming liquid that spreads rapidly across surfaces and adheres to skin and clothing. The explosive ignition happens in seconds, giving victims no time to escape the flames that shoot unpredictably in all directions.
Burn victims typically suffer:
- Third-degree burns destroying all skin layers and underlying tissue
- Second-degree burns requiring months of wound care at facilities like MUSC Burn Center
- Inhalation injuries from breathing superheated gases, requiring emergency intubation
- Facial disfigurement requiring years of reconstructive surgery at specialized facilities
Children represent 25% of victims nationally, with their height sadly putting them at face-level with typical tabletop units.
What To Do if You’ve Been Burned
Your immediate priority after a tabletop fire pit burn is first aid and proper medical care—these injuries can be life-threatening and worsen rapidly without treatment. Even burns that seem minor can cause serious complications. Here’s what to do immediately:
- Stop the burning process – Remove from heat source, stop/drop/roll if clothing is on fire
- Remove burning clothing – Unless stuck to skin; remove jewelry before swelling begins
- Cool the burn – Run cool (not ice cold) water over burn for 10-20 minutes
- Cover the burn – Use clean, dry cloth or sterile gauze; don’t use fluffy cotton
- Call 911 for severe burns – Third-degree burns, large areas, face/hands/feet/genitals affected
- Don’t apply ice, butter, or ointments – These can worsen tissue damage
- Seek emergency care immediately – All alcohol fire burns need professional medical evaluation
Possible Compensation Available to Burn Victims
Severity of Injuries Compensation varies significantly based on injury severity, with second- or third-degree burns requiring medical treatment, permanent scarring, nerve damage, or loss of mobility resulting in higher settlements.
Types of Damages Recoverable Victims may seek compensation for that our injury lawyers can help with:
- Medical expenses including hospital bills, surgeries, skin grafts, and ongoing rehabilitation
- Lost wages for time unable to work, and future lost wages if injuries result in long-term disability
- Pain and suffering for physical pain and emotional distress
- Permanent disfigurement
- Future care needs for ongoing medical treatment or long-term care
- Emotional trauma, including PTSD and anxiety
Legal Basis for Claims
The lawsuits typically rely on product liability:
- Design Defects: Flaws in the product’s design that make it inherently dangerous
- Manufacturing Defects: Production errors that create hazards
- Failure to Warn: Marketed as safe for indoor or tabletop use without adequate testing or clear warnings about refueling dangers
- Premises Liability Claims: Property owners, hotels, resorts, and rental platforms may be liable if they failed to provide safe firepits or warn of hazards
- Wrongful Death Claims: Families can seek compensation for funeral expenses and loss of companionship. Claims include medical expenses preceding death, lost wages, emotional trauma
Punitive Damages
State law allows punitive damages for reckless, willful, or wanton conduct (S.C. Code § 15-32-520). Awards are capped at three times compensatory damages or $500,000, whichever is greater. Evidence that manufacturers knew about dangers but continued sales strengthens punitive damage claims.
How much does legal representation cost victims?
Usually a lawyer costs nothing upfront, as most fire pit injury claims are handled on a contingency fee basis, meaning no upfront costs and no legal fees unless compensation is recovered.
How to Strengthen Your Fire Pit Injury Case
Strengthening a fire pit injury case rests largely on identifying responsible parties:
Liability typically falls on manufacturers who created products violating safety standards. Many tabletop fire pit manufacturers operate overseas, but importers who brought products into South Carolina bear equal responsibility.
Essential Evidence for State Courts
- Preserve the fire pit exactly as it was after the accident
- Document purchase from local retailers
- Photograph injuries throughout healing process
- Obtain witness statements immediately while memories are fresh
- Secure medical records from all treatment facilities
Expert Testimony Requirements
Courts require expert testimony to establish product defects in fire pit injury cases. The Louthian Firm works with a comprehensive team of specialists to build your case.
Our engineering experts identify specific design violations and demonstrate how the product failed to meet safety standards.
Medical experts from local institutions document the severity of your injuries and project future treatment needs. Fire investigators use scientific methods to reconstruct exactly how the explosion occurred, proving the defect caused your specific injuries. Economic experts calculate the full scope of your lifetime damages, including medical costs, lost wages, and diminished earning capacity.
Popular Tabletop Fire Pit Products
Brands Causing Injuries Locally:
- Colsen Fire Pits – 89,500 units recalled October 2024
- FLIKRFIRE – Multiple incidents reported statewide
- Roundfire Concrete models
- Amazon third-party sellers shipping to local addresses
- Various TikTok Shop brands targeting young consumers
Where Residents Bought Dangerous Units:
- Five Below locations in Rock Hill, Columbia, Charleston
- Walmart Supercenters throughout the state
- Online orders from Amazon’s Spartanburg facility
- Local boutiques in Charleston’s King Street district
- Greenville’s Main Street home goods stores
Take Action Now – Contact the South Carolina Burn Attorneys at The Louthian Law Firm, P.A
Don’t let negligent manufacturers and retailer conglomerates escape accountability. If you or a loved one suffered burns from a tabletop fire pit anywhere in the state—we’re here to help make things right as best we can.
The experienced South Carolina fire pit burn injury attorneys at the Louthian Law Firm will fight for justice and maximum compensation.
See the some of the successful case results and settlements the personal injury lawyers at The Louthian Law Firm have won.
Free Consultation 📞 Call (803) 712-4771 to speak with an attorney today to see if you have a valid case and any advice we can provide to you at no charge.
