Federal agency says stop using this type of fire pit

WASHINGTON (KSNW) – The Consumer Product Safety Commission has warned to stop using a particular type of fire pit.

The Commission says any fire pit that uses isopropyl alcohol or other liquid fuel poured into an open container or bowl and then ignited violates the voluntary safety standard ASTM F3363-19 requirements. 

Burning fuel in open containers can create uncontrollable pool fires, which can cause large, sudden, and extremely hot flames that can spread beyond the container. They can also cause flame jetting.

Because alcohol and similar fuels can have invisible flames, a person could believe there isn't a fire present and pour more fuel into the container, which causes the fuel to ignite in the air in a sudden burst of explosive flames.

The heat these flames produce can reach more than 1600°F and cause third-degree burns in less than one second. At least two confirmed deaths and at least 60 injuries have been reported by these devices since 2019.

The CPSC urges consumers to stop using them and to throw them away immediately. Retailers are being asked to pull them from shelves. In October, the agency alerted to a recall of the Colsen brand of tabletop fire pits but now recommends disposing of all fire pits that use open containers or bowls filled with liquid fuels.

If you want to report an unsafe product or search to see if it is unsafe before you purchase it, visit www.SaferProducts.gov.