Liquid-burning firepits behind 2 deaths, dozens of injuries

 

Liquid-burning firepits behind 2 deaths, dozens of injuries

By Kate Gibson

CBS News

December 19, 2024

Americans are being urged not to buy or use liquid-burning portable firepits sold for tabletops and other uses following the deaths of two people and dozens of injuries. 

Sold as tabletop firepits, firepots, miniature fireplaces or portable fires for indoor use, "these firepits are extremely dangerous and have been associated with two deaths and at least 60 injuries since 2019," the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said Thursday in issuing a consumer alert. "Consumers should immediately stop using and dispose of these products. Sellers should stop selling these products," the agency stated. 

The warning follows the June deaths of an elderly couple, .....

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Liquid-burning firepits behind 2 deaths, dozens of injuries

LSIS Case Study: Flame Jetting Hazard Phenomenon

  

LSIS Case Study:  Flame Jetting Hazard Phenomenon

Randall Alexander

Licensed Investigator / Paralegal

September 8, 2023

 A couple years ago, I had an investigation where family and friends were having a great time (no alcohol), gathered around a dinner table.  Located on top and center of the table was a product commonly referred to as a "fire pot".  Fire pots come in various shapes, sizes, manufacturers, as well as fuel sources. The smaller, “safe for indoor use” fire pots are generally used for ambience, some even use for cooking a marshmallow.

The particular model in question used Isopropyl alcohol or rubbing alcohol, which contains over a 90% alcohol.  Isopropyl alcohol generally burns fairly clear, but is also highly flammable.

 As the fire pot on the dinner table appeared to run out of fuel, one family member decided to refill the small fire pot reservoir.  What the person did not realize was that there was still a tiny ember or flame at the bottom of the fuel reservoir. 

As the person tipped the partially filled bottle of Isopropyl to about 90 degrees, .....

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Article: Flame Jetting Hazard Phenomenon

RECALL of FLIKRFIRE Tabletop Fireplaces Due to Flame Jetting

 

CPSC Urges Consumers to Stop Using FLIKRFIRE Tabletop Fireplaces Due to Flame Jetting and Fire Hazards; Two Deaths and Serious Burn Injuries Reported

Name of Product:

FLIKRFIRE Tabletop Fireplaces

Hazard:   Using alcohol-fueled FLIKRFIRE Tabletop Fireplaces can cause uncontrollable pool fires in which flames burn across the surface of pooled or spilled alcohol, as well as flame jetting from fuel containers, resulting in serious or fatal burns.

Consumer Action:   Consumers should immediately stop using and dispose of these dangerous products.

Product Safety Warning Date:   December 19, 2024

FLIKRFIRE Tabletop Fireplace RECALL

CROP FACTOR and Eyewitness Perspective

WHAT IS EYEWITNESS PERSPECTIVE?

DSLR Photographic Evidence

Randall Alexander

State Licensed Investigator

February 26, 2023

INTRODUCTION

Since 1999, when I obtained my investigator’s license I have witnessed (like many of you) technology rapidly change and advance.   I was routinely upgrading camcorders and cameras, going through various recording formats from 8mm to disc, then to CFI cards, SD and micro SD, etc. 

 Through this rapid technology change to auto-tech convenience, and the advent of high quality cell phone cameras, many have forgotten or never learned a couple fundamentals of basic forensic photography.  The one aspect I want to address is developing Eyewitness Perspective, or what someone saw with their naked eye. 

 Eyewitness Perspective is when a photographer can stand in the same spot where a witness previously stood, and capture an image with the same depth of field and perspective as the witness’ naked eye view. 

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CROP FACTOR: DSLR PHOTOGRAPHY

Capturing Eyewitness Perspective

 

Investigations: Capturing Eyewitness Perspective

Randall Alexander

Licensed Investigator

August 17, 2023

INTRODUCTION

In the 1992 comedy My Cousin Vinny, the criminal defense attorney played by Joe Pecsci has the insurmountable task of raising doubt before the jury in what appears to be solid eye witness accounts, linking the defendants to the crime scene. 

With one witness in particular, Cousin Vinny is showing the witness photographs, and asks on cross examination,  “So Mr. Crane, you can positively identify the defendants for a moment of two seconds, looking through this dirty window, this crud covered screen, these trees, with all these leaves on them, and I don’t know how many bushes…” 

As comical as the entire exchange was, there is an element of relevance to be taken away. 

In your investigation, what could a witness actually see from their perspective at the time of the incident?  And ... how can we replicate these conditions in an court approved evidentiary manner?

Factors that come into play are obstructions, lighting conditions, distance, weather, etc. 

I hope you find the article informative!

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Capturing Eyewitness Perspective

PHOTOGRAPHING MINORS IN LITIGATED MATTERS

 

SURVEILLANCE:   PHOTOGRAPHING

MINORS IN LITIGATED MATTERS

Randall Alexander

Legal Investigator

December 7, 2024

INTRODUCTION

There are many aspects of privacy laws that govern our investigative industry. This article is intended to address only one; surveillance video / photographing minors in public, whether intentional or incidental.

 Specializing in Civil Litigation and Family Law Litigation for the past twenty-five years as a licensed investigator, there has been a handful of times while under oath that I have been asked by opposing counsel, “Why did you illegally record my client’s child”?

 If you are not prepared to answer this question, it could reflect poorly on your professional knowledge, competency, and possibly tarnish your investigation as well as your client’s case.   

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Surveillance Involving Mino

DIFFICULT SERVICE OF PROCESS: Requiring a Licensed Investigator

 

DIFFICULT SERVICE OF PROCESS

Requiring a Licensed Investigator

Randall Alexander

Legal Investigator

April 1, 2025

INTRODUCTION

Service of process is traditionally handled by individual registered process servers and attorney document services.  Generally, they offer affordability, often $150 for three attempts by relying on bulk workload where the process server will have numerous cases to attempt service every day. While a registered process server’s role is pretty clearly defined, it is also limited. Their brevity at each stop-and-knock location when attempting to complete service is frequently hit or miss. 

 Ring door technology has created an additional obstacle for the traditional process server where the defendant/subject can now avoid service by remotely screening who is at their door.

Under these circumstances, a law firm may resort to contracting a licensed investigator to complete a “Difficult Service of Process”.   

 HIRING AN INVESTIGATOR

One problem encountered when being asked what an investigator charges for Service of Process is the attorney may have an unrealistic expectation of cost, assuming that licensed investigators will charge similarly to an attorney service.  It usually requires a detailed explanation based on our professional knowledge and experience, so the attorney / client understands the potential costs BEFORE engaging an investigator.

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Difficult Service of Process