BALTIMORE, MD—The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a strong warning to consumers, urging them to avoid using fire pits designed to burn pooled alcohol or other liquid fuels. The agency cited two deaths and at least 60 injuries associated with these products since 2019 as evidence of their extreme danger.

Acting State Fire Marshal Jason M. Mowbray is urging caution when using these devices indoors.

The CPSC’s warning extends to products commonly sold as tabletop fire pits, fire pots, miniature fireplaces, or portable fires for indoor use. These products often require consumers to pour isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol or similar liquid fuels into an open container within the fire pit and then ignite it. This practice directly violates the requirements of the voluntary safety standard ASTM F3363-19, which aims to prevent pool fires and flame jetting incidents.

“Igniting a pool of alcohol or other liquid fuel in a fire pit’s open container creates an uncontrollable pool fire, which can suddenly produce larger, hotter flames that can spread beyond the fire pit product,” the CPSC warned. The agency emphasized that these flames can reach temperatures exceeding 1,600°F, causing third-degree burns in less than a second.

Flame jetting, another serious hazard, can occur when refilling these fire pits while any flame is present. The CPSC explained that even a small, seemingly invisible flame can ignite the poured liquid, resulting in an explosion that propels flames and burning liquid onto the user or bystanders.

“Flame jetting happens when the fuel source, often alcohol-based, is added to the fire pit and vaporizes, causing a burst of flame to jet out of the pit,” said Mowbray. “If any open flame is nearby during refueling, the vapor can ignite explosively, leading to serious burns, property damage, or even fatalities. This is especially dangerous in indoor settings where confined spaces compound the risks.”

This warning follows the CPSC’s recent actions against specific products, including a warning to stop using FLIKRFIRE Tabletop Fireplaces and the recall of Colsen-branded tabletop fire pits. The agency is urging consumers who own any of these dangerous fire pits to dispose of them immediately and is calling on retailers and e-commerce platforms to cease selling them.

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.