Colsen Fire Pit Recall: Serious Burn Injuries Require More Than Refunds
If you’ve been burned by a defective Colsen fire pit, you may be entitled to significant compensation beyond what any recall refund could provide. Contact SHKLaw today for a free case evaluation to learn about your legal rights against manufacturers, Amazon, Walmart, and other retailers.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued an urgent recall for 89,500 Colsen tabletop fire pits due to severe flame jetting hazards that have caused devastating burn injuries across the United States. While Amazon, Walmart, and other retailers are offering limited refunds, many victims are discovering that these remedies fall far short of addressing the true scope of damages caused by these defective products. More importantly, victims have legal rights against not just the manufacturer, but also the retailers who sold these dangerous fire pits.
Colsen Tabletop Fire Pit Recall Details
The official CPSC recall was announced in July 2025 after mounting reports of catastrophic burn injuries linked to these tabletop fire pits. The recall affects seven different models of concrete fire pits manufactured by Colsen, all of which pose serious risks of flame jetting, fire spreading, and alcohol fuel leaking.
Which Colsen Fire Pits Are Recalled?
The recall encompasses 89,500 units across seven distinct models:
- Round tabletop fire pits (5, 8, and 12-inch diameters)
- Rectangular tabletop fire pits (various sizes from 8×5 to 18×10 inches)
- Hexagonal tabletop fire pits (8-inch and 12-inch)
- Square tabletop fire pits (8-inch and 12-inch)
- Skull-shaped tabletop fire pits (novelty design)
All recalled fire pits feature concrete construction with internal alcohol fuel reservoirs and were sold with Colsen-branded flame extinguisher caps. The units were manufactured in gray and black color options and marketed as “smokeless” and “odorless” indoor/outdoor fireplaces.
How to Identify Your Colsen Tabletop Fire Pit
Recalled Colsen fire pits can be identified by several key characteristics:
- Concrete or concrete-like construction material
- Internal reservoir designed for liquid alcohol fuel
- Colsen branding on the product or packaging
- Inclusion of a Colsen-branded flame extinguisher cap
- Marketed as suitable for both indoor and outdoor use
- Product descriptions emphasizing “smokeless” and “odorless” operation
Where Colsen Fire Pits Were Sold
These dangerous fire pits were widely distributed through major retail channels from January 2024 through July 2025, creating potential liability for multiple parties in the distribution chain:
- Amazon (primary distribution channel with established legal precedent for retailer liability)
- Walmart (major retailer with significant market presence)
- Various online marketplaces and third-party sellers
- Home and garden retailers in California, Texas, Florida, and New York
- Specialty fireplace and outdoor living stores
The widespread availability through these major retailers has contributed to extensive injury reports and creates multiple avenues for legal accountability under product liability law.
Why the Colsen Fire Pit Recall Was Issued
The CPSC’s recall decision was driven by a pattern of serious safety defects that make these fire pits unreasonably dangerous for consumer use. The agency’s investigation revealed multiple design and manufacturing flaws that create life-threatening hazards.
Flame Jetting Dangers
The most serious defect involves uncontrolled flame jetting that occurs when users add fuel to the fire pit. Instead of producing a contained flame, the defective design causes sudden, violent eruptions of fire that can extend several feet beyond the intended burn area. This flame jetting occurs with little to no warning, giving users no opportunity to protect themselves from severe burns.
Fire Spreading and Alcohol Leaking Risks
The concrete construction develops cracks and structural weaknesses that allow alcohol fuel to leak from the internal reservoir. When fuel leaks onto surrounding surfaces, it creates an immediate fire hazard that can spread rapidly and engulf nearby objects, furniture, and even users’ clothing. The porous nature of the concrete material exacerbates this problem by allowing fuel to seep through microscopic openings.
Invisible Flames Create Unexpected Hazards
Alcohol-based fuels burn with nearly invisible flames, especially in daylight conditions. This characteristic makes it extremely difficult for users to determine when the fire pit is still burning or when fuel vapors are present. Many injuries have occurred when victims unknowingly came into contact with invisible flames or added fuel to what they believed was an extinguished fire pit.
Severe Burn Injuries from Colsen Tabletop Fire Pits
The human cost of these defective fire pits has been devastating, with federal safety officials documenting a pattern of severe burn injuries that require extensive medical treatment and often result in permanent disfigurement.
CPSC Reports 31 Incidents and 19 Injuries
According to the CPSC’s recall announcement, the agency has received 31 reports of flame jetting incidents involving Colsen fire pits, resulting in 19 documented burn injuries. However, safety experts believe the actual number of injuries may be significantly higher, as many incidents go unreported to federal authorities.
If a Colsen fire pit has injured you, it’s crucial to report dangerous products to help protect other consumers while also documenting your case for potential legal action against all responsible parties.
Third-Degree Burns Covering 40% of Bodies
The most severe cases documented by the CPSC involve third-degree burns covering more than 40% of victims’ bodies. These catastrophic injuries typically occur when flame jetting ignites users’ clothing or when fire spreads to engulf victims who cannot escape quickly enough. Third-degree burns of this magnitude often require:
- Immediate emergency room treatment and intensive care
- Multiple skin graft surgeries over months or years
- Extensive physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Long-term pain management and psychological counseling
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement
Surgeries and Permanent Disfigurement Cases
At least six cases have required surgical intervention or prolonged medical treatment, with several victims facing permanent disfigurement. The nature of flame jetting injuries often affects visible areas of the body, including the face, hands, and arms, resulting in life-altering changes to victims’ appearance and functionality.
These severe injuries far exceed what any recall remedy could reasonably address, highlighting the importance of pursuing comprehensive legal remedies against all responsible parties in the distribution chain.
What to Do If You Own a Recalled Colsen Fire Pit
If you currently own a Colsen tabletop fire pit covered by the recall, immediate action is required to protect yourself and your family from serious injury.
Stop Using Immediately – Dispose Safely
The CPSC has issued clear instructions for owners of recalled fire pits:
- Stop using the fire pit immediately – Do not attempt to operate the device under any circumstances
- Allow the unit to cool completely if recently used
- Dispose of any remaining alcohol fuel according to local hazardous waste guidelines
- Remove the fire pit from your home to prevent use by family members or guests (if injuries have already occurred, store the fire pit safely to preserve evidence)
Federal Law Prohibits Resale of Recalled Products
It is illegal under federal law to sell, donate, or otherwise transfer ownership of recalled products. This prohibition extends to:
- Online marketplace sales (eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist)
- Garage sales and estate sales
- Donations to charity or secondhand stores
- Gifts to friends or family members
Violating these restrictions can result in significant fines and legal penalties.
Document Your Fire Pit for Legal Claims
If a fire pit has injured you, take important steps to preserve evidence for potential legal claims against manufacturers and retailers:
- Photograph the fire pit from multiple angles
- Document the model number and any visible markings
- Save your purchase receipt and any Amazon, Walmart, or other retailer order confirmations
- Take photos of any damage to your property
- Keep records of any injuries or medical treatment
- Keep the fire pit itself, but only if you’re able to store it safely and away from others
This documentation may prove crucial when pursuing legal action against multiple defendants in the distribution chain.
Legal Options Beyond Limited Recall Remedies
For victims who have suffered burn injuries or property damage from defective Colsen fire pits, California’s strict product liability laws provide multiple avenues for pursuing comprehensive legal remedies against manufacturers, retailers, and other parties in the distribution chain.
You Can Sue Amazon, Walmart, and Other Retailers – Not Just the Manufacturer
One of the most important developments in product liability law involves retailer accountability. Recent CPSC product liability rulings have established crucial precedents holding major retailers like Amazon legally responsible as distributors for dangerous products sold on their platforms, even when sold by third-party sellers.
SHKLaw attorney Jeremy Robinson played a pivotal role in establishing this precedent, winning a landmark California appellate case that held Amazon liable for a defective laptop battery that caused serious injuries. This groundbreaking decision paved the way for holding all major retailers accountable for the products they profit from selling.
This means burn injury victims can pursue legal action against:
- The manufacturer (Colsen) for designing and producing defective fire pits
- Amazon under established legal precedent for distributor liability
- Walmart and other major retailers who sold these dangerous products
- Third-party sellers who listed the products on various platforms
- Distributors and wholesalers in the supply chain
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit?
In California, the statute of limitations for product liability claims is generally two years from the date of injury. However, this timeline can be complex in cases involving:
- Delayed discovery of injuries or their connection to the defective product
- Ongoing medical treatment for burn injuries
- Multiple defendants in the supply chain
It’s crucial to consult with experienced legal counsel as soon as possible to protect your rights against all potential defendants and ensure all deadlines are met.
Product Liability Lawsuits for Burn Injuries
Victims of Colsen fire pit injuries may have grounds for several types of product liability claims against manufacturers and retailers:
Design Defect Claims: The fundamental design of these fire pits creates unreasonable dangers that could have been avoided through safer alternative designs. The flame jetting problem appears to be inherent in the product’s basic design rather than a manufacturing error.
Manufacturing Defect Claims: Quality control failures that allow defective units to reach consumers, including improper concrete mixing, inadequate curing processes, or faulty reservoir construction.
Failure to Warn Claims: Inadequate safety warnings about flame jetting risks, invisible flame hazards, and proper fuel handling procedures. Many fire pits were marketed with minimal safety information despite known dangers.
Retailer Liability Claims: Major retailers like Amazon and Walmart can be held accountable for selling dangerous products, especially when they profit from the sale and have the ability to screen products for safety.
Compensation Far Beyond Any Recall Value
Successful product liability claims can recover damages far exceeding any recall remedy:
Economic Damages include quantifiable financial losses such as medical expenses, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and property damage. For severe burn injuries, these costs often reach hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Non-Economic Damages address the human impact of injuries, including pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and disfigurement. These damages acknowledge that some losses cannot be measured solely in financial terms and can amount to millions of dollars, depending on the extent of the suffering and harm.
Medical Expenses and Pain & Suffering Damages
Burn injury victims often face extensive medical costs that continue for years after the initial incident:
- Emergency room treatment and hospitalization
- Burn unit intensive care
- Multiple surgical procedures and skin grafts
- Ongoing wound care and infection treatment
- Physical therapy and occupational therapy
- Psychological counseling and mental health treatment
- Long-term pain management
- Reconstructive surgery and cosmetic procedures
In addition to these concrete medical expenses, burn victims frequently experience severe pain and suffering that can qualify for substantial compensation. The visible nature of many burn injuries can also lead to social anxiety, depression, and other psychological impacts that deserve legal recognition.
How SHK Law’s Product Liability Expertise Helps Colsen Fire Pit Burn Victims
At SHKLaw, our experienced legal team specializes in complex product liability cases and understands the devastating impact that defective products can have on victims and their families. Our firm has achieved successful case outcomes for clients injured by dangerous consumer products, with particular expertise in cases involving major retailers like Amazon.
Jeremy Robinson: Leading Product Liability Attorney
Jeremy Robinson, our lead product liability attorney, has established himself as a pioneer in holding major retailers accountable for dangerous products. His landmark victory in a California appellate court established crucial precedent for Amazon liability that now benefits burn injury victims nationwide. Jeremy’s expertise in evolving product liability legal developments, including key CPSC precedents that impact online retailers, positions our clients for maximum success against all potential defendants.
Free Case Evaluation for Recall Victims
We provide free, confidential consultations for all Colsen fire pit injury victims. During your free case evaluation, we will:
- Review the circumstances of your injury in detail
- Assess the strength of your potential legal claims against manufacturers and retailers
- Explain your rights under California product liability law
- Identify all potential defendants in your case, including Amazon, Walmart, and other retailers
- Discuss the types of compensation you may be entitled to receive
- Answer all your questions about the legal process
This initial consultation comes with no obligation and no upfront costs to you.
No Fees Unless We Win Your Case
We handle all product liability cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney fees unless we successfully recover compensation for your injuries. This arrangement allows injured victims to pursue justice against well-funded corporations without worrying about upfront legal costs during an already difficult time.
Experience with Defective Product Claims Against Major Retailers
Our firm has a proven track record of holding manufacturers and major retailers accountable for dangerous products. We collaborate with leading experts in engineering, medicine, and other relevant fields to build the strongest possible cases against all responsible parties.
When you choose SHKLaw, you gain access to:
- Thorough investigation of your case using industry-leading resources
- Collaboration with top medical experts and accident reconstruction specialists
- Strategic litigation against multiple defendants including manufacturers and major retailers
- Aggressive negotiation with corporate defendants and insurance companies
- Trial-ready preparation to ensure the best possible outcome
Don’t let defective product manufacturers and retailers escape responsibility for your injuries. Recall processes are designed to limit corporate liability, not to fairly compensate burn victims for their losses. Contact us today to learn how we can help you pursue full compensation from all responsible parties.
This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Attorney advertising.