Story perspectives

Arson Suspected in Six-Alarm Fire at Kimberly-Clark Facility

4/10/2026

Summary

Story summary

A six-alarm fire destroyed a 1.2-million-square-foot Kimberly-Clark distribution center in Ontario, California, on April 7, 2026.
Chamel Abdulkarim, a 29-year-old employee of NFI Industries, a third-party distributor for Kimberly-Clark, was arrested amid a suspected arson investigation.
About 20 employees evacuated safely with no injuries.
The blaze destroyed the facility and its contents, including Kleenex and Huggies, as investigators seek the motive behind the fire with tips from the public.

History

Historical Context

The Great Chicago Fire of October 8, 1871, devastated over 3.3 square miles, killing approximately 300 people and displacing 100,000 residents. This disaster, part of a series of fires across the Midwest, prompted significant reforms in fire safety and urban planning. The recent six-alarm fire at a Kimberly-Clark facility underscores ongoing concerns about fire safety protocols in large structures.

1 of 2

Story summary

A six-alarm fire destroyed a 1.2-million-square-foot Kimberly-Clark distribution center in Ontario, California, on April 7, 2026.
Chamel Abdulkarim, a 29-year-old employee of NFI Industries, a third-party distributor for Kimberly-Clark, was arrested amid a suspected arson investigation.
About 20 employees evacuated safely with no injuries.
The blaze destroyed the facility and its contents, including Kleenex and Huggies, as investigators seek the motive behind the fire with tips from the public.

1 / 2