On June 27, 2026, the Petersen family was spending an evening at their Oceanside condo roasting marshmallows over a tabletop fireplace when the device suddenly flashed. Several children were outside in the patio area, with adults nearby. Jon Petersen later recalled seeing a huge fireball come out of the roaster as flames caught his 8-year-old son, Brock. azfamily.com · latimes.com
Adults rushed to put out the flames, pouring water on the children until paramedics arrived, according to an Oceanside Fire Department account reported by the Los Angeles Times. Two children were airlifted to a UC San Diego burn center for specialized treatment. One child’s father suffered minor burns and was taken there by ground ambulance. latimes.com
Brock suffered second-degree burns to his face, neck and arms, his family told Arizona’s Family. He spent 19 days in an ICU burn unit before his family said he began to recover. The emergency cut short what had been the Petersens’ annual trip to Oceanside, a vacation that had already included days at the beach, a visit to Legoland and time with friends. azfamily.com
By July 22, Brock was recovering and his parents were talking publicly about what happened. Amanda Petersen described the aftermath as an emotional roller coaster as the family tried to stay strong for Brock. His parents said they wanted other families to know what had happened so they would not face the same experience. azfamily.com
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission had issued a stop-use safety warning for FLIKRFIRE tabletop fireplaces on December 19, 2024. The agency said the alcohol-fueled products can cause uncontrollable pool fires and flame jetting. CPSC said flame jetting contributed to the June 2024 deaths of an elderly couple and that at least three other FLIKRFIRE incidents resulted in extensive third- or fourth-degree burns. FLIKR LLC is no longer in business and has not agreed to provide a recall remedy, the agency said. cpsc.gov
For Jon Petersen, the message after Brock’s ordeal was simple. People who still have portable fireplaces like the one involved should throw them away, he said. azfamily.com
The timing of this incident matters: it came more than 18 months after CPSC told consumers to stop using FLIKRFIRE fireplaces. The reporting does not establish whether the Petersens had seen that warning, so their experience cannot show how effectively it reached consumers. Still, with FLIKR LLC out of business and no recall remedy available, continued visibility of the specific stop-use message is especially important for families who may still encounter these fireplaces. A serious reported incident this long after the federal alert underscores how long a documented product concern can remain relevant when the manufacturer is no longer providing a remedy.
Sources used:
Arizona’s Family, Chandler boy spends 19 days in ICU after tabletop fire pit explodes on family vacation https://www.azfamily.com/2026/07/23/chandler-boy-spends-19-days-icu-after-tabletop-fire-pit-explodes-family-vacation/
Los Angeles Times, SoCal kids roasting marshmallows airlifted to burn center after tabletop fireplace jets out flames https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-06-29/oceanside-children-burned-while-roasting-marshmallows-on-recalled-tabletop-fireplace
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, CPSC Urges Consumers to Stop Using FLIKRFIRE Tabletop Fireplaces Due to Flame Jetting and Fire Hazards; Two Deaths and Serious Burn Injuries Reported https://www.cpsc.gov/Warnings/2025/CPSC-Urges-Consumers-to-Stop-Using-FLIKRFIRE-Tabletop-Fireplaces-Due-to-Flame-Jetting-and-Fire-Hazards-Two-Deaths-and-Serious-Burn-Injuries-Reported