After Seven Injuries, Urgent Warning Issued for Houswise Tabletop Fire Pits Due to Severe Burn Risks, Manufacturer Fails to Issue Recall

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a strong warning to consumers to immediately cease using Houswise Tabletop Fire Pits. The agency is highlighting significant risks associated with these products, including uncontrolled fires and dangerous flame jetting, which can lead to severe burns or fatalities. This alert follows previous warnings from the CPSC regarding liquid-burning fire pits that fail to meet voluntary safety standards.

The Houswise Tabletop Fire Pits, which come in rectangular, round, or square shapes and are sold under model names such as Vesper, Altair, Quad, and Astra, require users to pour liquid fuel directly into the container before ignition. Fuels like isopropyl alcohol or ethanol can burn at extremely high temperatures, exceeding 1,600°F, capable of causing third-degree burns in less than a second. The CPSC explains that igniting a pooled liquid fuel can result in an unexpected flare-up, creating larger and hotter flames that can spread beyond the confines of the fire pit. A particularly hazardous scenario identified by the CPSC is “flame jetting,” which can occur if a user attempts to refill the fire pit while a flame is still present. Even a small, hard-to-see flame can ignite the vapors within the fuel container, causing an explosion that propels burning liquid and flames toward the user or nearby individuals. The agency has produced a video demonstrating the potential force and distance of such flame jetting incidents.

The manufacturer of these fire pits, Furmia LLC, has not yet agreed to a recall of the products or offered any remedies to consumers. The CPSC is strongly advising consumers to stop using these tabletop fire pits at once and to dispose of them appropriately. They explicitly caution against selling or giving away these hazardous items. The Houswise fire pits were available in various colors, including marble, black, light gray, and dark gray, and some models were sold with accessories like skewers and cheese boards. These products have been available for purchase online since March 2023 on websites such as Houswise.com, Amazon.com, and Walmart.com. The CPSC has received over two dozen reports detailing instances of flame jetting, fuel leakage, and unexpectedly high flames, which have resulted in seven injuries, including third-degree burns. Consumers are encouraged to report any incidents involving injuries or product defects to the CPSC through SaferProducts.gov.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

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