Oceanside, California — What was supposed to be a relaxing family beach vacation quickly turned into a terrifying emergency after a tabletop fire pit allegedly exploded, leaving an 8-year-old boy with serious burns and sending another child to the hospital.
The Peterson family, who had traveled from Arizona for their annual camping trip in late June, were gathered around a portable fire pit roasting marshmallows when the explosion occurred without warning.
The blast turned an ordinary evening into a life-threatening situation, forcing emergency responders to airlift one of the children for specialized medical treatment.
Explosion Leaves Young Boy With Serious Burns
According to the family, the accident happened when a FlikrFire tabletop fireplace suddenly erupted after it was lit.
Eight-year-old Brock Peterson suffered full-depth second-degree burns to his arms and neck, along with burns to his face. His father, Jon, also sustained second-degree burns on his hands while trying to extinguish the flames engulfing his son.
A GoFundMe page created by family friends described the severity of the incident.
“It exploded when lit, setting Brock on fire and causing full depth second-degree burns on his arms and neck as well as burns to his face. Jon, Brock’s Dad, also ended up having second degree burns on his hands from trying to put out the fire.”
Another child injured in the explosion was also hospitalized following the incident.
Terrifying Moments Unfolded in Front of the Family
The explosion happened in front of Brock’s entire family, including his mother and younger siblings.
According to the fundraiser, Brock’s mother, Amanda, along with his 6-year-old sister Molly and 4-year-old brother Dean, witnessed the frightening accident.
Speaking to NBC 7, Brock’s father recalled the horrifying moment the fire suddenly erupted.
“All of a sudden, a huge fireball came out of the roaster, and it lit my son up like a torch. I got really scared, and that’s when I was screaming, ‘Somebody help.’”
Emergency crews responded quickly, and Brock was airlifted to a hospital, where doctors began treating his extensive burn injuries.
Child Faces Long Road to Recovery
Brock spent 19 days in an intensive care burn unit before continuing his recovery after undergoing skin graft surgery.
While his condition has improved, the young boy continues to recover from the painful injuries caused by the explosion.
The incident has also left an emotional impact on the entire family, who witnessed the traumatic event unfold during what was meant to be a memorable vacation.
Fire Pit Had Already Been Recalled
The product involved in the incident, FlikrFire, is a portable tabletop fireplace designed for indoor and outdoor use that operates using isopropyl rubbing alcohol as fuel.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the product was recalled in December 2024 after investigators linked it to two deaths and at least 60 injuries reported since 2019.
Canadian authorities had also recalled the tabletop fire pit in 2023 following reports that unexpected flame jetting had caused burn injuries.
The latest incident serves as another reminder for consumers to check whether household products have been recalled and to stop using any item that has been identified as a safety risk.
What do you think about this incident? Should recalled products be removed more quickly from homes and online marketplaces? Share your thoughts respectfully in the comments below.
