Viana Poggi Seriously Burned and Injured in a S’mores Tabletop Fire Pit Accident in Laguna Niguel, California

LAGUNA NIGUEL, Calif. — An 18-year-old woman suffered second- and third-degree burns after a tabletop fire pit exploded during a backyard s’mores activity.

The incident, which occurred at a home in Laguna Niguel, involved what fire safety experts call “fire jetting”—a sudden burst of flame caused when liquid fuel ignites unexpectedly.

Viana Poggi and her family had been using an alcohol-fueled cement fire pit when someone attempted to refill it, unaware that a small flame was still burning inside. In an instant, Poggi was engulfed in the burning liquid.

Paramedics responded to the scene and transported Poggi to the hospital, where she was treated for extensive burns to her face and body.

At the hospital, medical staff immediately suspected rubbing alcohol was involved—an increasingly common factor in backyard burn injuries.

The fire pit had required refueling, and rubbing alcohol had been used. The lingering flame inside the unit caused the fire to ignite and erupt violently when more fuel was added.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued recalls last year for several models of tabletop fire pits following similar incidents. Despite the warnings, many units continue to be sold online and through secondhand markets.

People affected by dangerous tabletop fire pits deserve answers and justice

Instead of making sweet memories with her family, this young woman will now have to endure months of painful recovery, permanent scarring, and the emotional trauma of an accident that could have been prevented. These dangerous devices have no place in people’s homes. But these indoor fire kits continue to be sold and marketed to unsuspecting consumers.

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.

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

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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.