Tabletop fire pit burns and recalls – can you sue? How much compensation is available from burns/explosions?
Written by ITL Attorney, Posted in Consumer Law, Personal Injury, Tort Law
If you were burned by an exploding tabletop fire pit, it is possible you can sue the manufacturer or vendor of the product you purchased if the product was unknowingly dangerous to use. Your compensation/settlement from a successful lawsuit will depending on your injury severity and circumstances. Multiple documented cases demonstrate substantial compensation potential.
The Is That Legal Team have researched this heavily and noted that previous tabletop fire pit burn victims have received settlements ranging from $225,000 to $8 million, depending on injury severity and circumstances (as of January 2026).
With federal recalls now on record and manufacturers like Colsen declaring insolvency, burn victims have strong legal grounds for compensation but must act quickly—statutes of limitations typically expire just 2 years from injury.
The experts at Is That Legal agree that the legal foundation for these cases is exceptionally strong: recalled products, documented safety violations, and mounting injury reports create compelling evidence of defective design. Multiple legal theories support claims including strict liability, negligence, and failure to warn, with courts already ruling that both manufacturers and retailers can be held accountable.
Can You Sue for Your Injuries from tabletop alcohol fire pit burns
Maybe. If you or a family member has been injured by a tabletop fire pit, see if you qualify for compensation by filling out the form on the right side of this page here.
The link above goes to the nationwide tabletop fire pit lawsuit page on the Louthian Firm website. After you fill out the form, an attorney(s) or their agent(s) may contact you to discuss your legal rights.
How much compensation can I get from a tabletop fire pit burn lawsuit?
Previous tabletop fire pit burn victims have received settlements ranging from $225,000 to $8 million, depending on injury severity and circumstances. Multiple documented cases demonstrate substantial compensation potential.
Examples of lawsuit settlement amounts
- Largest documented settlement: $8 million (Denman v. Multiple Defendants, 2012). A Fort Worth, Texas woman suffered severe burns to her neck, chest, face, and arms when fuel gel burst into flames during refueling at a backyard dinner party. She required multiple skin-graft surgeries and permanent disfiguring injuries. Multiple defendants agreed to the settlement in Portland, Oregon federal court.
- Case Barnett Law settlement: $1 million. An Orange County plaintiff suffered third-degree burns requiring two skin graft surgeries when a tabletop fire pit and gel lighter fluid combination ignited while following manufacturer instructions. The case settled after two years of litigation.
- Kutsor v. Bird Brain Inc.: $225,000 settlement. A 24-year-old Alabama man was airlifted to a burn center with burns to his neck, chest, and face after gel fuel exploded when added to what appeared to be an extinguished fire pot. Defendants included the manufacturer, distributor, and retailer Marshalls.
- Current active litigation includes Hominski v. Gusar, LLC (Southern District of Florida, trial scheduled March 2026), where a woman became “engulfed in flames” from flame jetting, and Little v. Amazon.com (trial February 2027), involving a minor who suffered severe burns to her chest, hands, legs, and scalp. At least five federal lawsuits targeting Colsen, Amazon, and other defendants are proceeding through courts nationwide.
How much is my tabletop fire pit burn injury worth?
Your tabletop fire pit burn injury value depends primarily on burn severity, with documented settlements ranging from under $10,000 for minor burns to over $7 million for catastrophic injuries:
| Burn Severity | Typical Settlement Range |
| First-degree | Under $10,000 |
| Second-degree | $25,000 – $75,000 |
| Third-degree | $100,000 – $800,000+ |
| 60%+ body coverage | Median verdict: $7.75 million |
The national median recovery for burn injuries is $366,313, though severe cases reach much higher. Factors increasing value include facial or visible burns, need for skin grafts, permanent scarring, young victim age, and strong liability evidence like CPSC recalls.
Should I join the tabletop fire pit class action or file my own lawsuit?
You should likely file your own lawsuit if you suffered severe burns, as individual lawsuits typically yield higher compensation than class actions for serious injuries.
An active class action has been filed: Barnhart v. Colsen Fire Pits LLC (Case No. 3:24-cv-00945, W.D. North Carolina), seeking certification for purchasers of recalled Colsen products. It alleges breach of warranty, unjust enrichment, and consumer protection violations.
However, class actions share damages among all participants and work best for smaller, similar claims. Victims with catastrophic burns—third-degree burns, permanent disfigurement, or extensive scarring—typically benefit more from personalized litigation that fully accounts for their specific damages.
If you or a family member has been injured by a tabletop fire pit, see if you qualify for a direct-action lawsuit with potential for significant compensation by filling out the form on the right side of this page here.
