A massive fire engulfed a paper product warehouse in Ontario, California, on 7/4, a facility crucial for supplying paper goods to approximately 50 million Americans. US officials announced on 8/4 that the blaze, which destroyed the 11,2-hectare site, also led to the arrest of Chamel Abdulkarim, 29 years old, on arson charges.
Firefighters first arrived at 12:36 a.m. Initially attempting to control the fire from inside, they were forced to retreat due to intense heat, switching to external hoses. A total of 175 firefighters, 20 fire trucks, 15 ladder trucks, 17 commanders, and numerous investigators were deployed to the scene. The fire was contained at 7:46 a.m., and nearby residents, particularly children and the elderly, were advised to stay indoors due to significant ash and dust in the air.
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Flames engulf the paper warehouse in Ontario, California, on 7/4. Photo: ABC News |
The Ontario warehouse, leased by consumer corporation Kimberly-Clark, was a primary storage facility for paper products, serving a substantial portion of the West Coast population. While about 20 people were present in the building when the fire erupted, officials confirmed no casualties. However, Diana Gomes, a senior analyst at Bloomberg, stated the fire risks causing supply shortages on the West Coast, potentially impacting over 3% of Kimberly-Clark's US business sales and increasing shipping costs. Kimberly-Clark owns popular brands like Cottonelle toilet paper, Kleenex tissues, Viva paper towels, and Huggies diapers.
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Orange smoke and flames rise from the paper warehouse in Ontario, California, on 7/4. Photo: KKK News |
Chamel Abdulkarim, an employee of NFI Industries, a third-party logistics provider for Kimberly-Clark, is currently held without bail following his arrest. A video surfaced on social media, allegedly showing Abdulkarim setting fire to bundles of paper, posted from an account bearing his name. In the video, the individual igniting the fire states, "You should have paid us enough money to live." California officials have not yet verified the video's authenticity.
Kimberly-Clark announced it has activated response measures to minimize the impact on consumers. The company stated, "Kimberly-Clark's supply chain network is designed to maintain continuous operations during disruptions. We have activated coordinated response plans and are working closely with local logistics providers to ensure supply for customers."
Duc Trung (According to USA Today, Hill, AP)
