One Person Seriously Burned in a Fire Accident Sparked by an Indoor S’mores Kit in Laurel, Maryland

LAUREL, Md. — A young boy is in critical condition following a townhouse fire Monday afternoon that was started by an indoor s’mores kit. The incident happened in the 8500 block of Crooked Tree Lane, where flames had engulfed the second floor of a three-story townhouse.

The fire left a 9-year-old boy with severe burns to his face. He was transported by ambulance to the Johns Hopkins Pediatric Burn Center in Baltimore with life-threatening injuries. One of the child’s parents also sustained burns to their hands but was treated at the scene and did not require hospitalization.

The fire was traced to a home-use s’mores kit, designed to roast marshmallows indoors.

Families affected by dangerous tabletop fire pits deserve answers and justice

How devastating. A device meant to create sweet family moments turned into a source of tragedy in an instant. Even more troubling is that these indoor fire kits continue to make their way into homes, where families trust they’re safe and use them to celebrate time together, never expecting the danger they might bring.

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.

Consumers have a right to know the dangers of these products. Those who have been seriously burned deserve answers and justice for their life-altering injuries.

May the family impacted here find the answers they deserve.

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The Ammons Law Firm represents clients nationwide in personal injury 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.