Albany, New York: Tabletop Fire Pit Lawsuit

Jed Dietrich, Esq., Recognized as a Best Lawyer and American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys 10 Best Attorney, is Committed to Protecting the Rights of Defective Tabletop Fire Pit Accident Victims Across Albany. If You or a Loved One Has Been Injured in an Abany, New York, Tabletop Fire Pit Accident That Was Not Your Fault, Our Experienced Team of Attorneys Could Help You Collect the Evidence You Need to Obtain a Fair Settlement.

Tabletop fire pits are an increasingly popular and easy to install as home additions, but regulators have serious concerns about their safety. In an alarming new report, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission described certain types of liquid-fueled tabletop fire pits as “extremely dangerous” devices.

"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 Consumer Product Safety Commission wrote. "A small flame in the fire pit can be hard to see and can ignite alcohol or other liquid fuel as it is poured, causing an explosion that propels flames and burning liquid onto the consumer or bystanders."

The Consumer Product Safety Commission noted that, between 2019 and 2024, tabletop fire pits were implicated in dozens of cases of serious personal injury and multiple deaths.

If you have been injured by a defective fire pit, you could have more options than you expect.

A recognized U.S. News & World Report Best Law Firm, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has spent decades fighting for the rights of families in Albany and throughout the region. We know what it takes to build a strong, compelling case for compensation, and we have the results to prove it.

Call Jed Dietrich, Esq., today at 1-866-529-5334 to speak to a tabletop fire pit injury lawyer near Albany and schedule your free, no-obligation consultation as soon as possible.

3 Big Risks Of Liquid Fuel Tabletop Fire Pits

Tabletop fire pits usually rely on liquid-based fuels like isopropyl alcohol and ethanol.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has specifically warned against purchasing fire pits that require users to “pour isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol or other liquid fuel into an open container or bowl and then ignite the pooled liquid in the same location it was poured.”

This refueling system creates several well-documented risks, including, but not limited to, the following:

1. Flame Jetting
   • Flame jetting occurs when a flammable liquid fuel is poured from a container into a fire pit or other heat source that is still hot. It can cause long, dangerous streams of fire to spray out of the fuel canister, acting much like an uncontrollable flamethrower.
     • Flame jetting could happen if:
2. The fire pit is still hot; and
3. The fire pit is still active, even if flames are not visible.
   • Flame jetting can occur quickly, often within the space of a single second, making it difficult for even well-prepared homeowners to take immediate action.
4. Flashback Ignition
   • Flashback ignition is an extraordinarily dangerous phenomenon that could occur if a spark or flame reverses direction, traveling backward through a hose or nozzle into the fuel container. In a worst-case scenario, flashback ignition could trigger a rapid chemical reaction inside the fuel canister, leading to a fire or small explosion.
5. Spontaneous or Unexpected Combustion
   • Fires cannot always be easily contained.

If a tabletop fire pit or its fuel canister catches fire, the conflagration could spread to other parts of the building, potentially affecting family members, guests, or other tenants. This could lead not only to the significant loss of personal property but also to physical injury to others.

Fire Pit Manufacturers And Liability

In its 2024 announcement, the Consumer Product Safety Commission observed that many popular fire pits are manufactured without any regard to industry standards.

As a general rule, you have a right to expect that any product you purchase will be reasonably safe for its intended use. Manufacturers can meet this duty in a variety of ways. Flame arrestors, for instance, are a common, easily installed safety feature that can prevent flame jetting and flashback ignition. Arrestors are simple devices that usually consist of little more than a mesh-metal screen that helps disperse heat and prevent external flames from leap-frogging back into the fuel container.

Making a safe tabletop fire pit could also involve:

1. Incorporating light-up indicators or digital gauges that show if a unit is still active;
2. Making enclosed fuel reservoirs that make it more difficult for vapor to escape during refueling; and
3. Warning labels advising consumers to avoid refueling after recent use.

If a manufacturer sells a product that is inherently unsafe, they could be held liable for the cost of any resulting accident.

How The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. Could Help You Assert Your Rights After A Tabletop Fire Pit Injury

You do not have to accept crushing medical debt and bad-faith excuses in place of a fair recovery.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a tabletop fire pit accident that was not your fault, you could be entitled to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, filing a lawsuit is often much easier than winning one. In New York, courts expect most injury claims to be backed up by a combination of compelling physical evidence and exacting legal theory. Any oversight or omission, no matter how minor, could lead to your case being dismissed on a technicality.

Fortunately, you may not have to do it alone.

For more than 30 years, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has fought to protect the rights of families in Albany and throughout Upstate New York. Our experienced team of product liability lawyers could help you:

1. Investigate the causes of your accident;
2. Determine if a design defect, marketing defect, or act of negligence caused your accident;
3. Assess your damages to ensure that any offer of settlement includes the money you will need to meet your needs;
4. Represent you in negotiations with the defendant, their insurance company, and their defense team; and
5. Prepare to take your case to trial, where our attorneys have proven time and time again that they excel.

Since our founding in 2005, we have helped our clients secure more than $300 million in damages money that they have used to pay off their medical debt, seek superior medical care, and begin rebuilding their lives. We could help you, too. Please send us a message online or call Jed Dietrich, Esq., today to schedule your free consultation and explore your best options for effective legal relief.

Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 1-866-529-5334 so that our aggressive, tenacious, and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Albany, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!

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