Nightmare California vacation for family as fire pit shoots flames at 8-year-old boy

An 8-year-old boy was set on fire after a tabletop fire pit exploded during a family vacation in California.

An Arizona family’s annual beach getaway turned into a nightmare when a portable fireplace suddenly exploded, leaving an 8-year-old boy with severe burns and another child hospitalized.

The Peterson family was roasting marshmallows during a late June camping trip in Oceanside when a FlikrFire fireplace allegedly erupted without warning.

Brock, 8, suffered second-degree burns and was airlifted to a hospital alongside another child injured in the blast.

“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,” a GoFundMe created by family friends said.

The terrifying ordeal unfolded in front of Brock’s entire family.

“In addition, Brock’s Mom, Amanda; little sister, Molly (age 6); and his little brother, Dean (age 4), witnessed the entire horrific accident,” the fundraiser further mentioned.

“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,’” Brock’s father told NBC 7.

Brock spent 19 days in the ICU burn unit and has been recovering from skin graft surgery.

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FlikrFire is a round personal fireplace for indoor or outside use and is fueled by Isopropyl rubbing alcohol.

While the product was previously sold on Amazon, it was recalled by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission in December 2024.

The tabletop fire pit had caused two deaths prior to the recall and caused at least 60 injuries since 2019.

Canadian officials also recalled the product in 2023 after a report of flame jetting resulted in burn injuries.