Health Canada warns against using rubbing alcohol products to fuel firepots – this can result in serious burn injuries

Certain firepot manufacturers recommend the use of rubbing alcohol products as a fuel for firepots, which has led to two incidents of severe burn injuries in Canada.

Health Canada is warning people not to fuel firepots with rubbing alcohol products (i.e., solutions of isopropyl alcohol or ethanol), even if instructions suggest it. This is a dangerous practice that can lead to serious fire and burn risks.

Rubbing alcohol products are typically sold for antiseptic purposes and are not intended to be used with firepots. It is dangerous to use rubbing alcohol products as a fuel source for firepots because rubbing alcohol containers typically do not have a flame arrestor. Other containers of flammable liquids without a flame arrestor should also never be used for fueling a firepot. A flame arrestor looks like a screen that is built into the container opening and is a device that lowers the chances of flame jetting.

Flame jetting is when a fireball bursts from a container of fuel which can cause serious injuries, even death. This happens very quickly when a flammable liquid, from a container without a flame arrestor, is poured into a firepot that is still burning or hot. The flame can travel up the stream of the fuel and into the container. This can lead to a burst of flaming fuel jetting out of the container. The resulting flame jet poses a serious fire and burn risk to the user and anyone nearby. Health Canada advises consumers to only use a fuel container with a flame arrestor or to choose a non-refillable gel fuel canister as a safer alternative for fueling firepots.