Going on an outdoor adventure is a blast until it’s time to set up the fire. Josh Thurmond invented the LavaBox, a portable campfire that takes these worries away. It’s made of ammo boxes, so you can be sure it’s sturdy. They pitched their product on Shark Tank and got a deal with Lori Greiner. At this stage, LavaBox is worth an estimated $2 million.
Josh Thurmond’s Background
Josh Thurmond hails from Denver, Colorado. Thurmond has a bachelor’s degree in history from MSU Denver and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Colorado Denver.
He started out as a program administrator at the District Attorney’s Office. After that, he held senior positions at companies including the National Sports Center for the Disabled, Adam’s Camp, and Handbid.
Founding LavaBox
Thurmond enjoys going on kayaking trips with friends. While touring the Rocky Mountains, one of his mates joked about putting a fire pit at the back of a raft. While everyone laughed, it sparked an idea in Josh’s mind.
Josh thought of ammo cans, which are common among raft guides because of their rugged material. When he got home, Thurmond connected a propane gas lead to an ammo box, which was strong enough to hold fire inside.
LavaBox was born and the portable campfire was founded during the forest fire season in 2020. It was the perfect time to release the product and it didn’t take long for Josh to file a patent.
Shark Tank: The Deal That Didn’t Close
By the time LavaBox appeared on Shark Tank, the business had already sold over 4,000 units, generated $610,000 in sales, and posted $290,000 in profits. He entered asking for $200,000 for 10% equity, a $2 million implied valuation.
Three Sharks bit. After negotiation, Thurmond accepted Lori’s revised offer of $200,000 for 12.5% equity plus the $0.75 per-unit royalty, valuing the company at $1.6 million. He chose her over O’Leary’s cheaper offer because he wanted retail expertise and mentorship.
Post-Shark Tank Performance
The day after the episode aired, LavaBox sold 260 units ,what the company normally sold in a full month. The Shark Tank effect paid off without the actual deal. According to the DenverPost.com, the deal with Lori never closed as Josh changed his mind. On the day the contract was due to be signed (nearly a year after filming) he and Lori mutually agreed to walk away.
Why Thurmond Chose Not to Scale
This is where LavaBox diverges from the typical Shark Tank story. Most founders use TV exposure to chase aggressive growth. Thurmond explicitly chose the opposite path.
“This was a means to an end, this was a way to stop wildfires. I really like the pace we’re at now.”
He’s stayed fully bootstrapped and selective about investors. LavaBox brought in around $1 million in 2022 and roughly $2 million in 2023, with similar performance reported into 2024. The company’s current valuation is estimated at around $2 million.
Where to Buy and What’s New
LavaBox now sells through its own site at FireAnytime.com, an Amazon storefront launched in July 2024 (fulfilled directly by LavaBox), and 50+ specialty outdoor retailers nationally. This is up from 21 stores at the time of filming. Notable stockists include Confluence Kayaks (Denver), 4Corners Riversports, and Liberty Mountain Distribution.
Current models and pricing:
- The Original LavaBox Combo – around $195, the bestseller
- The Krakatoa Firebreather – $329, the larger 20mm rocket-box model
- The Hekla – $329, stainless steel version
- The BoomBox – released in 2025, the new flagship: a 330,000 BTU dual-burner unit with a “HotBox” drawer cooking system
As of early 2026, demand is so strong the Original LavaBox is listed as backordered into March 2026. The company also donates $1 from every sale to Protect Our Rivers, a non-profit focused on river health and post-wildfire watershed recovery, around $20,000 in donations to date.
For a TV format built on aggressive scaling, Thurmond’s “I like the pace we’re at” might be the least flashy outcome possible. But it’s also one of the more honest playbooks for what a small consumer hardware brand can actually look like once the cameras stop rolling.
