US EditionWorker Suspected of Starting Fire at 1.2-Million-Square-Foot Paper Goods Warehouse
Police say a video showing the suspect lighting toilet paper stacks helped lead to an arson arrest.
- On Tuesday, April 7, 2026, police arrested 29-year-old Highland resident Chamel Abdulkarim for allegedly setting fire to a 1.2 million-square-foot Kimberly-Clark distribution center in Ontario, California, facing federal and state arson charges.
- Federal prosecutors allege Abdulkarim filmed himself igniting pallets of paper products and posted the video to Instagram, stating in court filings, "All you had to do was pay us enough to live."
- The blaze caused an estimated $500 Million in damages, requiring 175 firefighters and 15 fire trucks from Southern California to extinguish the massive fire that destroyed the facility operated by NFI Industries.
- Abdulkarim appeared in court Thursday and is being held without bail at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
- Ontario Police Department spokeswoman Cpl. Emily Williams confirmed the investigation remains active, while NFI spokeswoman Britny Francis declined to comment on the suspect's employment-related complaints, citing the ongoing criminal investigation.
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The Independent
The Independent (US)Video appears to show man starting giant warehouse blaze in California
A person appeared to film themselves starting a giant warehouse blaze in California, igniting toilet paper as they said, "All you had to do was pay us enough to live". Approximately 175 firefighters attended the fire which destroyed the 1.2 million square foot Kimberly-Clark distribution facility in Ontario on Tuesday (07 April). No one was injured in the incident. The suspect, Chamel Abdulkarim, was arrested at the scene and charged with multip…
Who Is Chamel Abdulkarim? 29-Year-Old NFI Industries Worker Accused Of Arson At Kimberly-Clark Warehouse
Chamel Abdulkarim, a 29-year-old NFI Industries employee, has been arrested on multiple felony arson charges after a massive fire destroyed much of a Kimberly-Clark warehouse in Ontario, California. The suspect allegedly posted video footage of himself starting the blaze, complaining about wages in what appears to be a disgruntled act. The 29-year-old from Highland is accused of setting fire to the 1.2-million-square-foot (111,484 square-metre) …
Exclusive | Disgruntled worker accused of setting massive warehouse fire sued his ex employer over lost pay
The disgruntled employee who allegedly cited low pay as his motive for igniting a blaze that leveled a $152 million warehouse in Ontario Tuesday previously filed a class-action lawsuit against his prior employer over breaktimes.
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