Amazon.com Defective Product Injury

WHAT’S THE ISSUE?

Hagens Berman represents a Washington resident who filed a personal injury lawsuit against Amazon.com after it allegedly sold her a defective camp stove that caused catastrophic burns as flames spread quickly, engulfing her body and burning through a fire blanket. The lawsuit alleges that Amazon failed to protect consumers from known risks about the Fire Maple Fixed Star 1 camp stove which were reported in still-published buyers’ reviews. The injuries sustained required around-the-clock medical and nursing care, specialized burn wound treatment and surgery. The injury caused second- and third-degree burns to her hands, arms, shoulders, torso, ankles and lower face.

ABOUT THE PRODUCT INJURY

The lawsuit’s plaintiff purchased the Fire Maple Fixed Star 1 camp stove on June 25, 2025, based on Amazon’s “#1 best seller” label. On June 30, 2025, she attempted to light the stove at home to practice prior to a camping trip. Uncontrollable flames erupted, and within seconds, flames spread to her outdoor rug and destroyed a fire blanket she threw onto the stove. After placing a second fire blanket over the fire, the Fire Maple camp stove exploded, according to the lawsuit.

Her neighbor heard screams and used a fire extinguisher to put out the flames while her neighbor’s girlfriend called 911 and saved the plaintiff’s dog. First responders rushed her via ambulance to the trauma unit at University of Washington’s Regional Burn Center at Harborview Medical Center.

According to the lawsuit, the Fire Maple camp stove was defectively designed and/or manufactured for reasons including, but not limited to:

1. the absence of an off switch or any safe method to shut off the stove other than unscrewing the base from the gas canister;
2. failure of the igniter to function as intended;
3. improper construction of the base, resulting in gas leaks and uncontrollable flames when attached to a gas canister;
4. melting of the plastic base components during normal use;
5. use of flammable materials in the pot cover; and/or
6. overheating of the aluminum components to unsafe levels during operation.

AMAZON’S PRIOR NOTICE

The lawsuit states that despite having access to reviews reporting gas leaks, overheating, tipping and uncontrolled flames, and being aware of the risk of the product, Amazon.com continued to list and promote the Fire Maple as a “#1 Best Seller” and to profit from its sales.

Currently published product reviews of the Fire Maple Fixed Star 1 state:

• “The container doesn’t lock into place and the fuel tapping system is faulty and leaked fuel all over my hand almost causing major burns."
• “Extreme Fire hazard”
• “I turned it on and it started spraying massive flames so I ran it outside and while I was trying to put out the flames it exploded…”
• “…When I turned it on, the entire thing became engulfed. Luckily only my hand was burned…”
• “Update: this product literally caught on fire while using it and almost caused a Forrest fire! [sic] …IT IS A FIRE HAZARD!”
• “…I could smell burning plastic. When I looked over, I saw that the whole base had caught fire and was melting. …I would consider this a design flaw. I am thankful no one got hurt.”
• “Hazard! Do not buy! Unstable and dangerous. First time it was used, it exploded and burned hand. Fire department came and was taken in ambulance.”

The lawsuit alleges that Amazon failed to take the following reasonable actions to prevent further injury, breaching its duty to exercise reasonable care to consumers:

• modify the product listing,
• conduct an adequate safety review,
• alert consumers of the reported dangers,
• provide any prominent warning to prospective purchasers or
• temporarily suspend sales.