A University District clothing shop in Seattle set a Fred Warner San Francisco 49ers jersey on fire with what looked like a Boring Company "Not a Flamethrower," filmed the whole thing on the sidewalk outside its storefront, then posted the footage online before quietly yanking it. The timing, right before Saturday's divisional-round showdown with the Seahawks, lit up rival fan bases almost as fast as the jersey. The store did not respond to requests for comment.
#Seahawks fans burn #49ers Fred Warner jersey ahead of huge playoff game π³
— ππππππππ£ππ§π¨ (@TheSFNiners) January 17, 2026
“Oh c’mon you can’t do that, it’s a waste of gas” pic.twitter.com/EFHnLNFeZV
Video And Online Backlash
The short clip shows two Lucky Dog employees, one decked out in Seahawks gear, as a man holds up the Warner jersey and a woman steps in with the flame device and burns it until it disintegrates, as reported by SFGATE. The video bounced around 49ers fan channels, where commenters quickly labeled the stunt "classless" and "disrespectful" before the post disappeared from the store's page.
Warner's Injury And The Game
Fred Warner suffered a fractured and dislocated right ankle on Oct. 12 and had only recently worked his way back to limited practice. The 49ers ultimately listed him as out for the divisional-round matchup with Seattle, according to the official injury report on 49ers.com. That backdrop, a key defensive star rehabbing a serious injury during playoff week, helped fuel the emotional reaction to seeing his jersey torched.
The Flamethrower And Its History
The handheld torch used in the video appears to be the Boring Company "Not a Flamethrower," the novelty gadget Elon Musk's tunneling company released in 2018 as a limited 20,000-unit run at about $500 apiece, according to CNBC. The devices quickly turned into collector items and started popping up on resale sites like eBay at much steeper prices, a trend noted by CNN.
Where The Stunt Happened
Lucky Dog runs two brick-and-mortar shops, one in Seattle's University District and another in Bellevue, and frequently posts product photos and short skits on its social media channels, according to the store's official site. The jersey-burning video appears to have been shot outside the University District location on "The Ave" near the University of Washington, which is one of the neighborhood spots and social accounts listed on the retailer's website.
Local Rules And Safety Questions
Seattle's fire and building codes generally restrict open burning and require permits for bonfires and many other open-flame displays, with specific permit rules for torches and similar devices used in public settings, according to the Seattle municipal code. At the state level, Washington legislators have previously debated tighter rules on flamethrowing devices, and a 2016 House analysis shows they considered making unpermitted possession a gross misdemeanor, underscoring that firing up a flame device in public can come with legal and regulatory risk.
Reaction And What's Next
After the uproar, the video disappeared from Lucky Dog's social feed, and an unnamed manager hung up when asked about the stunt, SFGATE reports. It remains unclear whether city officials will pursue any follow-up or enforcement. Online, fans and rivals alike show no signs of dropping the topic as the 49ers and Seahawks gear up for Saturday's playoff clash.
