December 15, 2025 – A recent incident report details a dangerous product malfunction involving string lights included with a “Montessori Felt Christmas Tree for Toddlers” purchased from Amazon.com. The lights, powered by a 3 AA battery pack, reportedly caught fire within minutes of being turned on, emitting flames and smoke. This incident highlights a critical fire safety risk, especially concerning products intended for children and made with flammable materials.
Product Details
Incident Overview
On November 17, 2025, an incident was reported concerning a “Montessori Felt Christmas Tree for Toddlers” purchased from Amazon.com. The product included string lights intended for decoration, powered by a battery pack holding three AA batteries wired in series. According to the report, within a mere 10 minutes of the string lights being activated, the LED bulb closest to the battery pack spontaneously ignited. The incident involved visible flames and a significant amount of smoke.
The consumer stated that if they had not been in immediate proximity to the lights when the fire started and quickly cut the power, the open flame could have easily spread. The inherent flammability of the felt Christmas tree material presented a severe risk of the fire rapidly escalating and potentially engulfing the entire home. Furthermore, the consumer noted that when they attempted to report the issue to Amazon, they discovered a picture review from another customer showing their lights also catching fire, suggesting this is not an isolated manufacturing defect.
Safety Concerns
This incident raises multiple grave safety concerns, particularly given the product’s target audience of toddlers and its intended use within a home environment.
- Immediate Fire Hazard: The most immediate and apparent danger is the risk of fire. Electrical components, especially those powered by batteries, should not ignite under normal operating conditions. An uncontrolled fire in a home can quickly spread, causing extensive damage and posing an extreme threat to life.
- Flammable Materials: The fact that the lights were decorating a felt tree significantly amplifies the danger. Felt is highly flammable, meaning any ignition could lead to a rapidly spreading blaze, leaving little time for occupants to react or extinguish the fire.
- Smoke Inhalation: Beyond the direct flames, the incident also reported “lots of smoke.” Smoke inhalation is a leading cause of fatalities in house fires, often more dangerous than the burns themselves.
- Risk to Children: As a product marketed for toddlers, there is an inherent expectation of safety. Children may not recognize the danger of a burning object or be able to react appropriately. Their curiosity could also lead them to interact with the faulty lights, increasing their risk of injury.
- Property Damage Potential: A fire starting on a decorative item like a Christmas tree, especially one made of felt, has the potential to quickly cause severe and irreparable property damage to a home and its contents.
- Systemic Issue: The discovery of another customer’s identical experience strongly suggests a potential design flaw, manufacturing defect, or quality control issue that is not limited to a single faulty unit.
What Consumers Should Do
If you own a “Montessori Felt Christmas Tree for Toddlers” or similar string lights purchased from Amazon.com or Dongguan Meitelasi E-Commerce Co., Ltd., please take the following urgent actions:
- Discontinue Use Immediately: Do not use the string lights that came with the felt tree. If they are currently in use, unplug them or remove the batteries at once.
- Check for the Product: Verify if the string lights included with your Montessori Felt Christmas Tree for Toddlers match the description: string lights powered by a battery pack containing 3 AA batteries wired in series.
- Do Not Attempt Repairs: Do not try to repair or tamper with the lights yourself.
- Preserve Evidence: If your lights have experienced a similar issue, do not discard them. Keep the product, its packaging, and any related documentation as potential evidence. Take photos or videos of the product and any damage.
- Report the Incident:
* Contact Amazon.com: Report the defect and safety hazard to Amazon’s customer service immediately. Refer to this incident report number (20251117-FBB92-2147326293) if helpful.
* Report to CPSC: File a report with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) at www.SaferProducts.gov. This helps the CPSC identify patterns and potentially initiate recalls.
- Seek Alternatives: If you wish to decorate a felt tree, consider battery-operated lights from reputable brands with established safety records, or opt for non-electrical decorations. Always supervise children when they are playing with decorative items.
Manufacturer’s Response
As of the date of this report, there has been no public response from Dongguan Meitelasi E-Commerce Co., Ltd. regarding this incident. Amazon.com has also not taken any public action in response to this report or other customer complaints mentioned.
Legal Help Available
If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product or suffered property damage due to a product malfunction, you may be entitled to compensation. The experienced product liability attorneys at Farzan Law understand the complexities of defective product cases and can help you navigate the legal process.
Contact us today for a free consultation: 424-325-3112
Our legal team has successfully represented clients in product liability cases involving defective appliances, automotive defects, medical devices, and consumer products. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay unless we win your case.
Note: This information is based on incident reports provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. If you find information that is incorrect, please contact us immediately so we can correct the post to reflect accurate information.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is not intended to be legal or medical advice. This article is based on publicly available incident reports. The incidents mentioned have not necessarily been independently verified or adjudicated.