Overview
- Anthony Trevino, a 31-year-old former Navy search-and-rescue swimmer, says a Colsen tabletop alcohol fire pit erupted in a fireball while he was refilling it, leaving him with widespread third-degree burns, weeks in the hospital, permanent scarring and nerve damage.
- The complaint, filed in San Diego County Superior Court in early August 2026, names Amazon and manufacturers Colsen and Gusar and seeks damages for medical costs, lost earnings and long-term injuries.
- Plaintiffs say Amazon’s post-recall emails downplayed the risk by warning only that the product “may not meet current safety standards” and did not tell buyers about the risk of catastrophic burns or offer refunds.
- Federal safety actions have already targeted these devices: the U.S. CPSC recalled roughly 89,500 Colsen units in October 2024 and issued a broader December 2024 alert after linking tabletop alcohol-burning pits to multiple injuries and two deaths.
- The case rests on a 2020 California appellate precedent that found marketplaces can be liable for third-party products, and a ruling for Trevino could change how online retailers handle dangerous listings, recalls and buyer warnings.