Trending Now - California Warehouse Inferno Triggers Roof Collapse, Employee Held

WHO:

[12:30 a.m. on April 7th, 2026] - ABC7 Los Angeles - Chamel Abdulkarim is an employee of NFI Industries, a third-party distributor for Kimberly-Clark, not a direct employee of Kimberly-Clark.

[12:30 a.m. on April 7th, 2026] - NY Post - Chamel Abdulkarim, 29, of Highland, has been identified as the alleged arsonist and has been arrested on two felony arson charges.

[12:30 a.m. on April 7th, 2026] - Bloomberg Markets - A male employee of Kimberly-Clark has been arrested on arson charges.

[12:30 a.m. on April 7th, 2026] - Los Angeles Times - About 20 workers were inside the Kimberly-Clark warehouse during the fire.

[12:30 a.m. on April 7th, 2026] - Los Angeles Times - Ontario Fire Department Deputy Chief Mike Wedell provided information about the incident.

[12:30 a.m. on April 7th, 2026] - Fox News - An employee was detained in connection with the fire.

WHAT:

[12:30 a.m. on April 7th, 2026] - ABC7 Los Angeles - A total of 175 firefighters and 20 engines were on scene battling the flames.

[12:30 a.m. on April 7th, 2026] - ABC7 Los Angeles - The fire destroyed several big rigs docked at the facility.

[12:30 a.m. on April 7th, 2026] - ABC7 Los Angeles - The fire was under control by Tuesday afternoon, and crews began the mop-up phase.

[12:30 a.m. on April 7th, 2026] - NY Post - Abdulkarim is accused of intentionally setting the fire at the Kimberly-Clark warehouse.

[12:30 a.m. on April 7th, 2026] - Bloomberg Markets - The fire could potentially lead to disruptions in a market that serves around 50 million consumers.

[12:30 a.m. on April 7th, 2026] - Fox News - A six-alarm fire engulfed a 1.2 million-square-foot Kimberly-Clark warehouse.

[12:30 a.m. on April 7th, 2026] - Los Angeles Times - The fire caused the roof of the warehouse to collapse and forced firefighters to retreat.

[6:30 a.m. on April 7th, 2026] - Los Angeles Times - Firefighters were pumping 1,000 gallons of water per minute to combat the blaze.

[6:30 a.m. on April 7th, 2026] - Los Angeles Times - The fire was still burning and firefighters expected to be on scene for the rest of the day.

WHERE:

[12:30 a.m. on April 7th, 2026] - Los Angeles Times - The fire occurred at a Kimberly-Clark paper products facility located at South Hellman Avenue and Merrill Avenue in Ontario, California.

WHEN:

[12:30 a.m. on April 7th, 2026] - Los Angeles Times - The fire was reported at this time.

[6:30 a.m. on April 7th, 2026] - Los Angeles Times - Firefighters were still battling the blaze at this time.

WHY:

[12:30 a.m. on April 7th, 2026] - ABC7 Los Angeles - Investigators noted that tips from the community, possibly relating to social media posts, helped lead them to Abdulkarim.

[12:30 a.m. on April 7th, 2026] - NY Post - Authorities describe Abdulkarim as "deranged" in connection with the alleged arson.

[12:30 a.m. on April 7th, 2026] - Los Angeles Times - The fire is suspected to have been intentionally set.

HOW:

[12:30 a.m. on April 7th, 2026] - ABC7 Los Angeles - Fire officials indicated the fire appeared suspicious almost immediately, pointing to its rapid spread and the possibility of more than one point of origin.

[12:30 a.m. on April 7th, 2026] - Los Angeles Times - Deputy Chief Mike Wedell stated that the fire grew “exponentially” and quickly overwhelmed firefighters, necessitating an "operational retreat."

[12:30 a.m. on April 7th, 2026] - Los Angeles Times - Firefighters initially rushed in to extinguish the blaze but had to make an "operational retreat" due to the rapid growth of the fire.

(UPDATED April 8, 2026 05:35 UTC)

A fire at an NFI Industries facility, which is a third-party distributor for Kimberly-Clark, destroyed several big rigs and required the efforts of 175 firefighters and 20 engines to bring it under control by Tuesday afternoon. Investigators found that tips from the community, possibly linked to social media posts, led them to Chamel Abdulkarim, who is an employee of NFI Industries. Fire officials noted the blaze appeared suspicious from the start, citing its rapid spread and the likelihood of multiple points of origin.

(UPDATED April 8, 2026 01:22 UTC)

Chamel Abdulkarim, a 29-year-old from Highland, has been arrested on two felony arson charges for allegedly setting fire to the Kimberly-Clark warehouse. Authorities have described Abdulkarim as "deranged" in connection with this incident. The arrest took place early on Tuesday, according to the New York Post.

(UPDATED April 7, 2026 23:11 UTC)

A male employee of Kimberly-Clark has been arrested on arson charges following a significant fire that could disrupt a market serving around 50 million consumers. Deputy Chief Mike Wedell reported that the fire grew “exponentially” and quickly overwhelmed firefighters, forcing them to make an operational retreat. The incident, which occurred early on Tuesday, is raising concerns about its potential impact on the market.

(UPDATED April 7, 2026 19:20 UTC)

A six-alarm fire engulfed a 1.2 million-square-foot Kimberly-Clark warehouse in Ontario, California, early on Tuesday, with about 20 workers inside at the time of the incident. Firefighters, who were pumping 1,000 gallons of water per minute, faced a roof collapse that forced them to retreat and continue battling the blaze, which is suspected to have been intentionally set. An employee has been detained in connection with the fire, and officials expect firefighters to remain on the scene for the rest of the day.