A bar that was recalled after it was linked to two deaths in the United States appears to be still hurting customers, and two children in Southern California were rushed to hospital over the weekend with severe burns, according to officials.
Firefighters responded to the 500 block of Strand North in the beach area, less than a mile north of the Oceanside pier, around 6:30 p.m. Saturday, the Oceanside Fire Department said in a statement.
Officials said several children outside in the open area were roasting marshmallows in a device called Flikr Fire, a tabletop fireplace kit that uses rubbing alcohol for fuel and was also called 2024. Adults were there.
“When it was being used, the device suddenly flashed, burning the children and their clothes,” said the officials.
According to the department, nearby adults put out the fire by pouring water on the children until the emergency services arrived.
The two children, who have not been identified, suffered burns and were taken to UC San Diego Hospital's burn center for specialized treatment. The children are still in the hospital, it is not clear how they are doing.
“One of the children's fathers, who received minor burn injuries, was taken by ground ambulance to the burnt area, and was reunited with his family,” said the officials.
Flikr Fire, previously sold on Amazon, is a circular personal fireplace sold to consumers for indoor or outdoor use. To use a tabletop fireplace, consumers are instructed to pour isopropyl alcohol within an inch of the top of the fireplace and light the alcohol with a long-handled lamp.
The tabletop fireplace was recalled in December 2024 by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. The agency announced two deaths and serious burn injuries related to the product.
In a press release, the commission said Flikr Fire's fire pits can cause uncontrolled fires “when flames ignite on the surface of mixed or spilled alcohol, as well as flames from fuel containers, resulting in serious or fatal burns.”
Fire punishment contributed to the June 2024 death of an elderly couple who were severely burned after a third party tried to fill a fire pit that appeared to have been extinguished.
In at least three other cases, use of Flikr Fire resulted in third- or fourth-degree burns on multiple areas of consumers' bodies, the commission said.
Canadian health officials also issued a recall notice for the product following one new burn injury in January 2025.
The manufacturer of Flikr Fire is no longer a business.
Tabletop fireplaces were previously sold between 2018 and 2024 and ranged in price from $35 to $105. Products were available at online retailers including Amazon, Bespoke Post, Faire, Shopify, Hirsch, Huckberry, Touch of Modern, Macy's, Nordstrom, CB2 and Neiman Marcus.
“Incidents involving fire extinguishers fueled by rubbing alcohol and other flammable liquids have been reported in other parts of the country, causing serious burns, especially to children,” said a statement from fire officials. “These incidents highlight how alcohol vapor can ignite suddenly, causing a sudden fire even in what appears to be normal use.”
