Kimberly-Clark Ontario facility destroyed in arson fire; employee in custody

Employee arrested on suspicion of arson in Ontario warehouse fire

Police arrested 29-year-old Chamel Abdulkarim, an employee of a third-party distribution partner, on suspicion of felony arson.

ONTARIO, Calif. - A devastating six-alarm structure fire ripped through a Kimberly-Clark distribution center in Ontario Tuesday morning, leading to the arrest of an employee on suspicion of arson. 

While the 1.2-million-square-foot facility suffered a total loss, including a roof collapse, authorities confirmed that all 20 employees present during the blaze escaped unharmed.

What we know:

Ontario police have identified the suspect as Chamel Abdulkarim, a 29-year-old resident of Highland. 

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Kimberly-Clark employee detained on suspicion of arson after massive Ontario warehouse fire

While initially believed to be a Kimberly-Clark staffer, officials clarified he is an employee of NFI Industries, a third-party distribution partner.

The backstory:

The fire broke out around 12:30 a.m. at the facility located near Eucalyptus and South Hellman Avenue.

The building was filled with highly combustible household paper products, such as Kleenex and toilet paper, which acted as "fuel" for the flames. 

Despite an active internal sprinkler system, the fire grew "exponentially very quickly," forcing more than 150 firefighters from multiple agencies to retreat to a defensive, exterior-only strategy. 

Abdulkarim was detained after being reported missing during the initial evacuation and is currently being held without bail on multiple arson-related felony charges.

Warehouse in Ontario burns down

An employee is accused of starting a massive warehouse fire in Ontario.

What we don't know:

Investigators have not yet determined the specific motive behind the fire. 

While the Ontario Police Department is actively monitoring Kareem’s social media activity for potential clues, they have not released the specific contents of those posts. 

Additionally, the exact method used to ignite the paper products remains under investigation.

What they're saying:

Kimberly-Clark released a statement on Wednesday that said in part, "Kimberly-Clark extends its gratitude to local authorities and firefighters who responded to the incident. Kimberly-Clark has activated a response team to manage the situation and minimize customer and consumer impact."

According to the company, the building in Ontario is leased by Kimberly-Clark and operated by NFI Industries. No Kimberly-Clark manufacturing assets were impacted.

"Kimberly-Clark's supply chain network is designed for continuity during disruptions and mitigating actions are already in motion. The company has activated its coordinated response plans and is working closely with local logistics providers to maintain continuity for customers. Teams have identified alternative locations for inbound shipments and are securing additional warehousing capacity through local partners. The company is working through mitigating any short-term disruptions as these plans are executed."

What's next:

The facility and its contents have been declared a total loss, and several big-rig trucks at the loading docks were also destroyed. 

Kimberly-Clark said it will provide additional updates as necessary during its next quarterly business update on April 28. 

Ontario police told FOX 11 the department is aware of a video circulating on social media that appears to be filmed by Abdulkarim and it is part of the ongoing investigation.

Arson suspected in massive Ontario warehouse fire

One person is in custody, according to authorities. 

What you can do:

If you have any information regarding the start of the fire or tips related to the investigation, contact the Ontario Police Department's investigative tip line at (909) 986-6711.