Woman Killed, Two Injured in a Fire Pot Accident in Newport News, Virginia

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — A woman has died from severe burns after an ethanol fire pot accident that also injured her husband and young daughter, according to Newport News fire officials. The family had been roasting marshmallows when the incident occurred.

According to reports, the husband attempted to refill the ethanol fire pot. When the fresh fuel made contact with the hot pot, the flame ignited the can, creating a fireball that spread across the room.

The woman, who was pregnant at the time, suffered critical injuries and died two weeks later. The man and child were also burned and are still recovering from their injuries.

Newport News fire officials are reminding the public about the dangers of refueling ethanol fire pots, which can remain hot and ignite fuel unexpectedly.

Individuals affected by dangerous tabletop fire pits deserve answers and justice

They come in cute or sleek designs, adding a charming touch to the décor of our homes. But these devices can turn dangerous in an instant, burning everything in their path.

Tabletop fire pits are extremely dangerous. These products, often sold as fire pots, portable fireplaces, or miniature indoor fire pits, pose severe burn and fire risks, including flame jetting and uncontrolled flare-ups, especially when fuel is ignited or refilled.

The main hazard lies in a common design flaw: users are instructed to pour flammable liquid, such as isopropyl alcohol, directly into an open reservoir and ignite it in the same space. Flame jetting can occur if a small, nearly invisible flame remains during refueling, igniting vapors and causing a sudden, violent burst of fire. These devices can burn at temperatures exceeding 1,600°F, leaving little time to react when something goes wrong.

Yet, despite numerous injuries and deaths reported, these devices remain on the market with inadequate safety features and unclear warnings. Some manufacturers still promote and sell them—sometimes even for indoor use—without any warning or explanation of how quickly a pleasant gathering can turn dangerous with these unsafe devices.

This is unacceptable. Surviving families deserve answers on these failures and accountability from those responsible.

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The Ammons Law Firm represents clients nationwide in burn injuries and wrongful death litigation.

Disclaimer: This post is not legal advice. Information contained in this blog was compiled from third-party sources or is the opinion of the author. Please inform us immediately if false or misleading information is contained in this post.