Indoor fire pit lawsuit alleges flame jet burned user
A New York woman alleges a Stonhome tabletop fire pit ejected a sudden flame jet indoors, setting her clothing and body on fire and causing severe burns. The product liability lawsuit names the manufacturer and Amazon, amid wider CPSC scrutiny of alcohol-fueled fire pits. That claim, filed in August 2026, underscores why households are rethinking portable fire pits sold for tables, patios, and indoor ambiance.
Key Takeaways
- Rachel and Shaya Lerner sued MT Global Enterprises LLC (doing business as Stonhome) and Amazon.com Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on August 12, 2026.
- The couple says a Stonhome tabletop fire pit produced a flame jet during indoor use on January 25, 2025, igniting Rachel's clothing and burning her head, face, chest, ears, and hands.
- Separately, the U.S. CPSC announced a recall of about 48,700 Brookstone-branded tabletop fire pits over uncontrolled pool fires and flame jetting, with two severe burn reports.
- Alcohol-fueled fire pits that burn liquid fuel in an open reservoir can create invisible or jetting flames that travel outside the device.
- Owners of recalled units are told to stop use immediately and seek a refund through the recalling company.
What happened in the indoor fire pit lawsuit?
According to reporting on the complaint, Shaya Lerner bought a Stonhome Tabletop Fire Pit Bowl on Amazon on December 23, 2024, for $40.87. The purchase came days after the CPSC expanded a warning about pooled-alcohol fire pits. Stonhome posted a related safety warning on Instagram on December 27, but the Lerners say they were never adequately warned.
On January 25, 2025, the couple was using the device inside their home when it allegedly produced a sudden flame jet that struck Rachel and set her clothes on fire. She allegedly suffered severe burns requiring ongoing treatment and lasting limitations. Shaya says he witnessed the incident and experienced severe emotional distress.
The lawsuit claims the pit was defectively designed because it required users to burn combustible isopropyl alcohol—commonly known as rubbing alcohol—in an open container. That design, the plaintiffs argue, created a foreseeable risk of flame jetting and serious burns. They also allege inadequate testing and insufficient warnings.
Amazon is named as a seller and distributor. The complaint points to a 2024 CPSC decision indicating the retailer may bear responsibility for recalling certain hazardous products it receives, stores, and delivers. The Lerners allege Amazon did not send them a product-safety email specifically warning about flame jetting until July 4, 2025—more than five months after the burn—and that a July 14 email provided refund instructions.
Claims include negligence, strict product liability, and breaches of implied and express warranty. Shaya also asserts a "zone of danger" negligence claim tied to emotional and physical injuries from seeing his wife engulfed in flames. The suit seeks compensatory and punitive damages, attorneys' fees, costs, and other relief.
Why do tabletop fire pits pose a flame-jetting risk?
Tabletop fire pits are small, portable devices meant for flat surfaces. Many burn liquid alcohol or similar fuels to create an open flame for heat, decoration, or cooking. Some are marketed for patios, decks, balconies, and indoor use.
Products that require pouring liquid fuel into an open reservoir before lighting are especially concerning in these reports. Fuels can reach temperatures above 1,600 degrees Fahrenheit and cause third-degree burns almost immediately. Spilled or pooled fuel can ignite and spread flames to people or surfaces nearby.
AboutLawsuits notes that hazards linked to these devices have driven a growing number of serious burn injuries—among users, people refueling the units, and bystanders. Lawsuits against manufacturers, distributors, and retailers often allege dangerous designs, thin safety features, weak refueling guidance, and poor warnings about invisible flames and flame jetting.
For readers who track household risk the way they track wealth hacks and passive income decisions, the lesson is practical: a low-cost decor purchase can create outsized medical and legal costs if a product fails during normal use.
Which Brookstone fire pits were recalled over burn hazards?
Separately from the Stonhome lawsuit, federal safety officials and local coverage highlight another wave of concern around branded tabletop units. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced that Southern Telecom is recalling Brookstone-branded tabletop fire pits because use can produce uncontrolled pool fires—flames burning across pooled or spilled alcohol—and flame jetting from fuel containers, with a risk of serious or fatal burns.
About 48,700 units are covered. Affected models include BSFIREPIT01 (UPC 680079015930), BSFIREPIT02 (UPC 680079015947), and BSFIREPIT03 (UPC 680079015954). The units are round or hexagonal concrete open reservoirs meant to hold burning liquid alcohol. Model and UPC details appear on packaging bottoms.
Southern Telecom has received two reports of flame jetting and flames escaping the concrete container, resulting in two injuries that included second- and third-degree burns. NBC Montana also reported that consumers should stop using recalled pits immediately and contact the company for a refund. The same local report noted a separate recall of hundreds of 960 Sunnyside one-gallon kerosene containers sold on Amazon from May through July, citing a missing required safety device meant to help prevent flash fires.
CPSC guidance for the Brookstone recall tells consumers to stop use, email a photo of the fire pit marked with "Recalled," their name, and the date to the company support address listed in the recall notice, then dispose of the product. Recalled hazardous products should not be sold or given away.
What should owners of alcohol-fueled fire pits do now?
If you own tabletop fire pits that burn liquid alcohol in an open bowl, treat recent lawsuits and recalls as a stop-and-check moment. Confirm the brand, model number, and UPC against official recall notices. Do not keep using a unit that matches a recalled description.
Even when a specific model is not named in a recall, the Stonhome complaint illustrates how flame jetting can allegedly occur during ordinary indoor use. Follow manufacturer instructions carefully, never ignore federal hazard warnings, and keep fuel away from clothing, children, and flammable decor. If you already received a delayed safety or refund email from a retailer, retain those records.
People who suffered serious burns, scarring, or other injuries involving tabletop fire pits may explore legal options with counsel familiar with product liability claims. Reported harms associated with these devices in lawsuit coverage include second- and third-degree burns, permanent scarring or nerve damage, respiratory injuries, flare-ups during refueling, fatal incidents after explosions, lost wages, hospital care, and emotional trauma.
The bottom line for fire pits marketed as cozy indoor accessories is stark: open-reservoir alcohol designs have been tied to sudden jets of flame, federal recalls, and high-stakes litigation. Verify what you own, stop using hazardous units, and rely on primary safety notices—not marketing copy—before lighting another tabletop flame.