Good Earth recalls 1.2 million lights after multiple fires and 1 death

More than 1.2 million Good Earth Rechargeable integrated Lights sold nationwide are being recalled due to multiple fires — one deadly — as the product's battery can overheat and ignite its plastic casing, according to a notice posted Thursday by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. 

One person died and another was treated for smoke inhalation when the product overheated and caused a fire in their home last year, according to Mount Prospect, Illinois-based Good Earth. The company knows of nine additional reports of lights overheating, including six that resulted in fire and property damage, it said.  

After investigating the 10 reports of the lights overheating, Good Earth "removed the lights involved in these incidents from sale to the public in January," the company said in a statement to CBS MoneyWatch, citing "an abundance of caution." 

Good Earth did not immediately respond to a question about why the company waited until June to announce its voluntary recall. 

Manufactured in Cambodia and China, the recalled lights were sold at hardware and home improvement stores including Ace Hardware, Lowe's, Menards, Meijer and online at Amazon, Goodearthlighting.com and QVC. They were sold from October 2017 through January 2024 for about $20 for a single unit or roughly $35 for a bundle. 

Beyond those sold across the U.S., an additional 37,800 lights were sold in Canada.

The recalled lights have model numbers starting with RE1122, RE1145, RE1362 and RE1250 printed on a white sticker on the back.

The product's lithium-ion batteries are meant for use as alternatives to permanently wired fixtures in places like closets, cupboards and staircases where there are barriers to installing wired lights. 

Consumers with the recalled lights should stop using them and contact the company for a replacement. Good Earth Lighting can be contacted by calling at 800-291-8838  from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central, Monday through Friday. Consumers can also email the company at [email protected].

Good Earth Lighting will provide "a free replacement light of at least equal value to the purchase price of the recalled light, including no cost shipping," the company said in its statement. It also urged customers to use an appropriate USB charger with its rechargeable lights.

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Kate Gibson

Kate Gibson is a reporter for CBS MoneyWatch in New York, where she covers business and consumer finance.