Ontario Arson Suspect in Court Following Kimberly-Clark Warehouse Fire

Arson Suspect Scheduled for Court Appearance in Rancho Cucamonga

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. – Chamel Abdulkarim, a 29-year-old resident of Highland, is set to face arraignment on felony arson charges in a Rancho Cucamonga court on Friday. Abdulkarim is accused of deliberately setting fire to a large Kimberly-Clark distribution facility in Ontario earlier this week, resulting in a catastrophic six-alarm blaze.

According to authorities, Abdulkarim was employed by NFI Industries, the logistics provider operating the Ontario facility. He was arrested on Tuesday, two miles from the fire site, shortly after firefighters battled the sprawling inferno, which mobilized 175 responders.

The charges against Abdulkarim include one count of aggravated arson and six counts of arson of a structure, all felonies. The case is further complicated by a video reportedly filmed by Abdulkarim during the fire, which appears to show paper products being ignited. This footage is being utilized as crucial evidence in a case estimated to involve damages of $500 million.

In a recent statement regarding the incident, Kimberly-Clark expressed appreciation for the emergency responders and provided assurance that no other manufacturing operations were affected. “The company has activated its coordinated response plans and is working closely with local logistics providers to maintain continuity for customers,” they said.

Abdulkarim’s allegations stem from a criminal complaint stating that he confessed to officers, saying, "I’m confessing." Despite the implications seen in the video, authorities have yet to confirm a specific motive behind the fire.

The timeline of events is as follows:

• Tuesday, April 7: The fire starts shortly after midnight, forcing 20 employees to evacuate safely. Abdulkarim is detained later that morning.
• Wednesday, April 8: Kimberly-Clark activates its crisis response team to address logistics and customer impacts.
• Thursday, April 9: Prosecutors review social media evidence, leading to the formal charges.
• Friday, April 10: Abdulkarim is scheduled for his first court appearance.

As the investigation continues, Abdulkarim remains in custody without bail at the West Valley Detention Center. Following today’s arraignment, court officials will outline a schedule for future hearings, while Kimberly-Clark is expected to detail the financial repercussions of the incident during its quarterly update on April 28.