“Social Media Video Appears to Show Spark of $600 Million Blaze; Worker Charged with Felony Arson”
ONTARIO, CA — A “shining light” of the Inland Empire’s industrial sector was reduced to ash on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, after a fire tore through the Kimberly-Clark Distribution Center. Ontario Police have arrested Chamel Abdulkarim, 29, of Highland, in connection with the blaze. Investigators are now scrutinizing a video posted to social media that purportedly shows the suspect methodically lighting pallets of paper goods on fire.
The Incident: Tuesday, April 7, 2026
The fire erupted in the early morning hours at the facility located near Eucalyptus and South Hellman Avenue.
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The Emergency: Around 12:30 AM, fire crews arrived to find heavy smoke and flames. The 1.2-million-square-foot building was packed with highly combustible paper products, including toilet paper and diapers, which served as fuel for the “extremely rapid” fire growth.
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The Response: Approximately 175 firefighters from multiple agencies, including Riverside and Los Angeles Counties, battled the blaze for nearly 12 hours.
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The Outcome: The building suffered a total roof collapse and has been declared a total loss. Property damage is estimated at a staggering $600 million. Fortunately, all 20 employees on-site at the time were evacuated safely with no reported injuries.
The Evidence: The Social Media Video
A major focus of the investigation is a first-person video that began circulating on social media shortly after the fire began.
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The Content: The footage appears to show a man lighting cases of paper goods while expressing frustration over his wages. In the video, the individual is heard saying, “If you’re not going to pay us enough to live or afford to live, at least pay us enough not to do this.”
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The Motive: Investigators believe the arson was a deliberate act of protest against working conditions and pay. Another clip allegedly shows the suspect saying, “All you had to do was pay us enough to live. There goes your inventory.”
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Police Review: Ontario Police Cpl. Emily Williams confirmed that detectives are working to authenticate the footage, which was shared on the suspect’s private Facebook page before being recorded by co-workers.
“This was an uncharacteristic fire… the rapid spread for such a large building to move that quickly was a red flag for our investigators.” — Ontario Fire Chief Mike Gerken
The Suspect: Chamel Abdulkarim
Abdulkarim was not initially a suspect; in the chaos of the evacuation, he was reported missing, and co-workers expressed concern for his safety.
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The Arrest: He was apprehended about two miles from the warehouse after allegedly texting an acquaintance to “say goodbye.” Body-worn camera footage reportedly shows Abdulkarim telling officers, “I’m confessing.”
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The Charges: Abdulkarim is facing multiple felony state charges, including Aggravated Arson. On Friday, federal prosecutors also charged him with Arson of a building used in interstate commerce.
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The Connection: While working at the Kimberly-Clark facility, Abdulkarim was an employee of NFI Industries, a third-party distribution company.
A Community Impacted
The “senseless and heinous” destruction has left residents across the region cleaning up ash that fell for days. Kimberly-Clark has activated a response team to manage supply chain disruptions, assuring consumers that there will not be a shortage of essential paper goods due to the fire.
How You Can Help
The Ontario Police Department is still seeking additional information to finalize the case against the suspect.
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Contact: Detective Ryan Ronveaux
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Phone: (909) 408-1748
In the Aftermath: We stand with the employees and the Ontario community as they recover from this devastating event. We hope the investigation brings a full understanding of the truth behind this “unexplained” act of destruction.
If you or someone you know is struggling with workplace stress or financial hardship, support is available through local community resources and mental health services.
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