December 8, 2025 – A recent incident report details a severe fire caused by a Target Room Essentials Task Lamp that reportedly self-combusted while unplugged and unattended. The incident led to extensive property damage and triggered an apartment building’s sprinkler system, highlighting significant potential safety risks associated with the product.
Product Details
Incident Overview
According to an incident report filed on November 18, 2025, a consumer purchased a Room Essentials Task Lamp from Target a few weeks prior to the incident. The lamp was intended for use in a guest room at the consumer’s parents’ apartment. On the day of the incident, the lamp was reportedly not in use and the homeowners were not present. Despite being off and unattended, the lamp spontaneously ignited, leading to a “huge fire” within the apartment. The fire was severe enough to activate the building’s sprinkler system, resulting in significant property damage not only from the fire itself but also from water discharge. The specific circumstances leading to the self-combustion of an apparently inactive lamp raise serious concerns about internal defects or electrical faults that could trigger a thermal event.
Safety Concerns
This incident points to critical safety concerns surrounding the Room Essentials Task Lamp, primarily the risk of spontaneous combustion and fire.
- Immediate Dangers: The primary and most immediate danger is the risk of fire, which can quickly spread, causing severe property damage, structural compromise, and potential for serious injury or even death due to burns, smoke inhalation, or entrapment. Given that the lamp ignited while unattended and reportedly not in use, the danger is amplified as there would be no one present to detect and extinguish the fire in its early stages.
- Long-Term Risks: Beyond the immediate danger, consumers face the long-term risks of property loss, displacement from their homes, and significant financial burdens for repairs or replacement. The psychological trauma of experiencing a home fire can also be substantial.
- Who Might Be Affected: Anyone who owns or uses a Target Room Essentials Task Lamp of this model could be at risk. This includes individuals, families, and residents of multi-unit dwellings where a fire could spread to adjacent units.
- Property Damage Potential: As evidenced by this incident, the property damage potential is extremely high. A lamp fire can destroy furniture, personal belongings, and the structure of a home. The activation of sprinkler systems, while crucial for fire containment, also leads to extensive water damage, further compounding the losses.
What Consumers Should Do
Given the serious nature of this incident, consumers who own a Room Essentials Task Lamp, particularly model 98850 42291, should take immediate action:
- Immediate Steps: Unplug the lamp from the electrical outlet immediately. Stop using the lamp altogether. Do not attempt to inspect or repair the lamp yourself.
- How to Check for the Product: Locate your Room Essentials Task Lamp and check for any identifying model numbers, typically found on a label on the lamp base, under the base, or on the power cord. Look for “Room Essentials Task Lamp” and the model number “98850 42291.”
- Prevention Measures: Until more information is available or a recall is issued, it is strongly advised to cease using this specific model of task lamp. Store it in a safe, non-flammable location away from anything combustible.
- Reporting Procedures: If you own this lamp and have experienced any issues, or if you believe you have this specific model, please report the incident or your ownership to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) at SaferProducts.gov. You should also contact Target directly using the number provided in their response.
Manufacturer’s Response
On November 21, 2025, Target provided a general statement regarding product safety concerns: “Target is committed to providing high quality and safe products to our guests. We take all product safety concerns very seriously. Please contact Target at 1-800-440-0680.” As of this date, there has been no specific response from Target acknowledging this particular incident or announcing any investigation, warning, or recall for the Room Essentials Task Lamp.
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.