Nearly 90,000 Colsen-branded tabletop fire pits sold by major retailers nationwide are being recalled after dozens of alarming incidents left 19 people with burn injuries, some requiring surgery and others permanently disfigured. 

The products are a burn and fire hazard in that alcohol flames can be invisible and lead to flame jetting when the pit reservoirs are filled, causing fire to flash back to the alcohol containers, unleashing burning alcohol onto people nearby, according to a notice posted on Thursday by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. 

“Use of the recalled fire pits can lead to injury quickly and unexpectedly, causing burns in less than one second that can be serious and deadly,” CPSC stated.

The federal agency said it has received 31 reports of flame jetting and flames escaping from the product’s concrete container, burning 19 people. Two of those cases involved third-degree burns to more than 40% of the victims’ bodies, and at least six incidents involved surgery, prolonged medical treatment, admission to burn treatment facilities, short-term disability, loss of function, physical therapy or permanent disfigurement, it stated. 

The recall involves about 89,500 Colsen-branded indoor/outdoor tabletop fire pits manufactured by Colsen Fire Pitts of Miami, Florida, as well as Colsen-branded fire pits previously made by another company. 

Sold online by Colsen Fire Pits and Amazon.com, the recalled fire pits were also offered by FlipShop, Grommet, Meta, Sharper Image, TikTok, Walmart and Wayfair from January 2020 to July 2024 for between $40 and $90. 

People who own the recalled fire pits should stop using them and throw them away, as the “firm stopped selling Colsen-branded fire pits less than one year after it acquired the product business and does not have the financial resources to offer a remedy to consumers,” the federal agency stated.

The fire pits should not be resold or donated, the agency stressed.

The recalled products consist of a concrete, open reservoir to hold burning liquid alcohol, and came in seven models varying in size from 5 to 18 inches wide. Gray or black in color, the fire pits are round, rectangular, hexagonal, square or skull-shaped.

Consumers can contact Colsen by email at: info@colsenfirepits.com or online at colsenfirepits.com. 

Gold investing has long been a smart way to protect your money. And, in recent years, it’s become an essential one. 

With inflation high and interest rates elevated, many turned to gold to protect their portfolio as other assets appeared uneven. Investing in the precious metal subsequently hit an 11-year high in 2023. However, the interest has remained strong throughout 2024, as evidenced by numerous price records shattered. Gold was priced at $2,063.73 per ounce on January 1 but has since soared past $2,600 – with many expecting that price to soon hit $3,000.

Against this backdrop, both beginner investors and veterans who have yet to add gold to their portfolio may want to get started now. But they should do so before this November, in particular. Below, we’ll explain why.

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Why you should invest in gold before November

With the start of the new month just weeks away, it makes sense to get invested in gold now. Here’s why:

Geopolitical tensions could increase buyer demand

Gold demand typically increases when geopolitical tensions are high, as they have been for much of the last two years. If you combine those concerns with a looming U.S. presidential election and the fallout from that, it adds up to what is likely to be increased buyer interest. This has already been demonstrated, in part, with gold bars selling out at retailers like Costco. So you’ll want to get invested before more buyers enter a competitive market. Just be sure to do so in a moderate amount as most experts recommend limiting gold to a maximum of 10% of your overall portfolio.

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The price could rise again

Amid the aforementioned concerns and economic factors like inflation and interest rates, it’s easy to see the price of gold rising yet again. And with it already approaching $2,700, waiting too long to act could cause the precious metal to become out of reach for many. Buying in now, then, before November makes sense. While gold could come down in price slightly post-purchase it’s important to remember that, overall, the price of gold only rises. So act now before that rise makes an investment prohibitive.

It’s never too early to protect your portfolio

Gold is a great portfolio diversifier, offering protection and steadiness when other assets are volatile. And it’s never too early to add that protection into your asset mix. By maintaining and often rising in value when other assets underperform, gold can offer a buffer that stocks, bonds and even real estate simply cannot. And while recent economic developments surrounding rate cuts, unemployment and inflation have all been encouraging, it will still take some time for this news to reverberate through the wider economic climate. You’ll want to have gold as a protector when it does. 

The bottom line

Now is a great time to invest in gold if you haven’t already taken advantage of the precious metal. By investing before this November you’ll position your money for protection against the volatility caused by geopolitical and domestic tensions. But you’ll also get in before the price has a chance to rise yet again. And remember that, no matter the timing, it’s never premature to protect your portfolio. Gold can help provide that security both now and in the months and years to come.