A number of companies such as Napa Home & Garden are involved in both recalls of their firepots and gels as well as lawsuits resulting from product defects and malfunctions of their products. These products came to the market around 2008 and more than 500,000 have been recalled. Since their debut there have been 37 reported incidents of firepots exploding and 23 burn injuries. When the firepots explode, the gel fuel acts like napalm and causes severe burns. The attorneys of Bunch and James have been investigating these cases and are here to help you with any incident you or someone you know may have had.
Exploding firepots are ceramic firepots filled with either a scent-free or citronella pourable gel in order to ward off insects. The clear, pourable gel fuel is packaged in clear one-quart plastic bottles and one-gallon plastic jugs. The fuel gel is poured into a stainless steel cup in the center of the firepot or other decorative lighting device and ignited. Under certain conditions, the firepots explode and the blazing jellylike pourable gel explodes like a Molotov cocktail. Napa Home & Garden exploding clay firepots, Fuel Barons’ exploding fuel gel, and BirdBrain’s exploding firepots cause serious second- and third-degree burns to those near the exploding ceramic firepots.
Why You May Have A Case
The firepot explosions occur when victims add more fuel to the ceramic or clay pots when a small to invisible flame is still burning. The warning labels affixed to the product are on the outer wrapping of the packaging and are often immediately thrown away at a time after the initial setup when refilling the firepot is far from the mind of consumers. Exploding firepot lawyers and we here at Bunch and James believe that the warning and packaging of these products is inadequate to warn consumers, resulting in manufacturers of these firepots and gel fuels being liable to the victims of these products for their injuries.
On June 22, 2011, the CPSC announced a pourable gel fuel recall of the Pourable NAPAfire and FIREGEL Gel Fuel bottles and jugs, to reduce the risk of serious burns caused by the exploding ceramic gel pots going forward. Retailers, including Bed Bath & Beyond, Home Depot, Sam’s Club, Shopko, Restoration Hardware, will no longer sell the exploding firepots. Currently only refunds and returns are offered for these products, but compensation for injuries suffered as a result of these products is only available through a lawsuit with the company. Bunch and James is currently involved in exploding firepot litigation and case evaluations and invites you to contact us today for more information and a no obligation case evaluation. If you or a loved one has used a pourable exploding firepot or firegel gel fuel and suffered injury, contact us today. Toll-Free: (888) 422-2882 Tel: (256) 764-0095 Fax: (256) 767-5705