// PHASE 5D: Thread-safe validation - handle both GameObjects and Creatures
    WorldObject* targetObject = nullptr;
    bool isCreature = targetGuid.IsCreature();

    if (isCreature)
    {
        // Target is a Creature (e.g., invisible fire trigger)
        Creature* creature = ObjectAccessor::GetCreature(*bot, targetGuid);
        if (creature && creature->IsAlive())
        {
            targetObject = creature;
            TC_LOG_ERROR("module.playerbot.quest", "Found nearest valid Creature {} at ({:.1f}, {:.1f}, {:.1f}) - distance {:.1f}yd ({} valid nearby)",
                         creature->GetEntry(),
                         creature->GetPositionX(), creature->GetPositionY(), creature->GetPositionZ(),
                         nearestDistance, validObjectsFound);
        }
    }
    else
    {
        // Target is a GameObject
        auto snapshot = SpatialGridQueryHelpers::FindGameObjectByGuid(bot, targetGuid);
        if (snapshot)
        {
            GameObject* gameObject = ObjectAccessor::GetGameObject(*bot, targetGuid);
            if (gameObject)
            {
                targetObject = gameObject;
                TC_LOG_ERROR("module.playerbot.quest", "Found nearest valid GameObject {} at ({:.1f}, {:.1f}, {:.1f}) - distance {:.1f}yd ({} valid nearby)",
                             gameObject->GetEntry(),
                             gameObject->GetPositionX(), gameObject->GetPositionY(), gameObject->GetPositionZ(),
                             nearestDistance, validObjectsFound);
            }
        }
    }

    if (!targetObject)
    {
        TC_LOG_ERROR("module.playerbot.quest", "UseQuestItemOnTarget: No valid target (GameObject or Creature) {} found (scanned {} nearby objects, {} were valid but GUID resolution failed)",
                     targetObjectId, nearbyObjects.size(), validObjectsFound);

        // All targets might be despawned/used - navigate to objective area to wait for respawn
        NavigateToObjective(ai, objective);
        return;
    }

    // CRITICAL: Calculate SAFE distance from target based on type and damage radius
    float damageRadius = 0.0f;
    bool causesDamage = false;
    float safeDistance = 10.0f; // Default safe distance

    // For GameObjects, detect damage-causing types and their radius
    GameObject* gameObject = targetObject->ToGameObject();
    if (gameObject)
    {
        GameObjectTemplate const* goInfo = gameObject->GetGOInfo();
        if (goInfo)
        {
            switch (goInfo->type)
            {