Colorado Woman's Ozark Trail Stove Lawsuit Against Walmart Moved to Federal Court

Plaintiff Maike S. Hirst-Roddey alleges an Ozark Trail butane tabletop stove sold by Walmart exploded during normal use, causing severe burn injuries that required surgery and left permanent scarring. The filing centers on the Ozark Trail Tabletop 1-Burner Butane Camping Stove, model BG2247A1, which was the subject of a U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recall announced November 26, 2025 (CPSC No. 26-120).

The recall covers about 201,000 units imported by China Window Industry Co., Ltd. of Taipei, Taiwan and sold by Walmart Inc., Bentonville, Arkansas. Walmart sold the stoves in stores nationwide and online from March 2023 through October 2025 at prices ranging from about $8 to $45. The model number is printed on a gray label inside the fuel compartment; the units are dark green with a bright orange Ozark Trail logo on the front.

Federal and manufacturer reports tied to the recall list 26 incident reports of the stoves exploding or catching fire, including 16 reports of injuries such as second-degree burns. Law firm recall summaries note different descriptions of the failure mechanism; one report cites an igniter failure that can cause a gas leak, while recall language reproduced by a law firm states, "The stoves can explode or catch fire, posing a burn and fire hazard to consumers." Consumers are instructed to stop using the stove immediately and return it to any Walmart store for a full refund or use Walmart’s online recall portal; Walmart’s consumer line is 800-925-6278.

The complaint by Hirst-Roddey raises immediate issues for Walmart frontline staff and store managers. Stores must process high-volume returns, field customer safety questions, and manage upset or injured customers while following recall procedures. Associates responsible for customer service, loss prevention, and returns may encounter heavier workloads and need clear guidance from corporate on refunds, documentation, and how to handle units that might be evidence in litigation. Regional health and safety teams and asset-protection personnel may also be asked to help coordinate returns and store-level communications.

Several plaintiff-side law firms are actively soliciting clients in the wake of the recall, offering free consultations and nationwide intake lines. That activity, together with individual suits such as Hirst-Roddey’s, can increase litigation risk for Walmart and invite further discovery into supply-chain quality controls, importer oversight, and in-store handling practices. The materials reviewed for this report include the plaintiff name and injury allegations but do not include full court filings or the removal paperwork that would confirm the case’s transfer to federal court; those records should be obtained to verify the case’s procedural posture.

For workers and managers, the immediate priorities are following recall protocols, protecting customers and colleagues from harm, and documenting returns and communications. For litigation watchers, the next steps are obtaining the complaint and any federal removal notice, and monitoring whether additional suits or consolidated litigation emerge.