A massive fire tore through a Kimberly-Clark distribution center in Ontario, California, early Tuesday, April 7, destroying the entire facility and prompting the arrest of a contract worker on arson charges. Authorities say the 1.2 million-square-foot warehouse, which serves roughly 50 million people, was fully engulfed in flames, leading to a roof collapse and total loss of inventory. No injuries were reported.

The suspect, identified as 29-year-old Chamel Abdulkarim, is an employee of NFI Industries, a third-party logistics provider handling Kimberly-Clark products. Initially reported missing, Abdulkarim was later located by police and is now facing multiple felony arson charges. He is being held without bail at West Valley Detention Center. Tesla Cars on Fire in US Video: Man Sets Several Tesla Vehicles Ablaze at Tesla Service Centre in Las Vegas, Terrifying Video Surfaces.

Kimberly-Clark Warehouse Fire

The blaze triggered a six-alarm response, drawing approximately 175 firefighters to the scene. According to the Ontario Fire Department, the fire was contained to the original building, though extinguishing efforts were expected to continue into the evening.

Arson Suspect Arrested After Fire Destroys Key Kimberly-Clark Warehouse

Officials noted early on that the fire appeared suspicious. Ontario Deputy Fire Chief Mike Wedell said the scale and behavior of the blaze raised concerns from the outset. Images from the site showed the warehouse completely consumed by flames, with all goods inside, primarily paper-based products like facial tissues and toilet paper, destroyed. Fire Breaks out at Rio De Janeiro's Olympic Park.

Kimberly-Clark Warehouse Fire: Supply Chain Impact

The destroyed facility played a key role in distributing consumer goods across the western United States. Analysts warn the incident could disrupt supply chains, particularly in major markets such as Northern California, Arizona, and Nevada. According to industry estimates, the fire could affect more than 3% of Kimberly-Clark’s US sales, with additional pressure from increased transportation and logistics costs.

While the full extent of the disruption remains unclear, analysts say the company may need time to assess the duration and scale of the impact before updating forecasts.

Kimberly-Clark confirmed there were no injuries and said it is assessing the operational consequences of the fire. Shares of the company fell 4.1% on Tuesday following news of the incident. The company, known for brands such as Huggies and Kleenex, had recently announced plans to acquire Kenvue Inc., the consumer health company behind Tylenol, signaling broader strategic moves even as it now faces unexpected operational challenges.

Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the fire and the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s actions. Officials have not yet disclosed a possible motive. Fire crews remain on-site managing hotspots, while investigators work to determine the full scope of damage and potential long-term effects on regional supply chains.

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(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 09, 2026 07:20 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).