Hamilton Beach 31126D

SaferProducts.gov consumer incident report 20241125-5C6F3-2147335027. Severity: Incident, No Injury. Product: Hamilton Beach 31126D (Easy Reach 1400 W 6 Slice Convection Toaster Oven). Incident: Saturday night I was warming three taco shells in my 4 month-old Hamilton Beach Easy Reach 1400 W 6 Slice Toaster Oven, prewarmed to Bake @ 350. I sat down on the kitchen chair to read the paper, heard a funny noise a minute later, and turned to find flames over a foot high coming from the oven, and the taco shells black. I grabbed the mitt, grabbed the tray, and tossed it in the sink. If I'd, say, gone to the bathroom for 3 minutes, the fire alarm and sprinkler system would have been triggered, and the rare books in the contiguous living room destroyed. My research since then suggests this is especially a problem with taco shells, but I've been doing this the same way for 50 years. Hamilton Beach has not responded, and the paperwork suggests I have to pay for the shipping AND they will send me another toaster oven of the same model. Meanwhile, Home Depot today did not care - their 90-day warrantee has expired. THAT IS RIDICULOUS. I have contacted everyone in my addressbook - all are horrified - but this needs to be fixed. Any large toaster oven should be able to cope with some shell slices. Can you help? I sure hope so!!