UPDATED Monday, Apr. 13, 10:48 a.m.: This story has been updated to include new details about the arson suspect and criminal charges
The man who started a massive fire last week that destroyed a large warehouse facility in Ontario pled not guilty to state felony arson charges.
Chamel Abdulkarim, 29, of Highland is facing seven counts of felony arson filed by the San Bernardino County District Attorney's office, including an aggravated arson charge tied to allegations that he caused more than $500 million in damages by burning products inside the warehouse.
Abdulkarim was arraigned by Judge Sharon Faherty at the Rancho Cucamonga court on Monday morning. He was wearing orange jail-issued scrubs and had glasses on. His court-appointed attorney, Matt Magorien, did not take questions from the media after the hearing.
The fire started around 12:30 a.m. on April 7 at Kimberly-Clark's 1.2 million square foot distribution center on Hellman and Merrill avenues. The company produces items like diapers and Kleenex paper towels.
A massive fire that broke out in Ontario around 12:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Apr. 7, 2027 destroyed a large Kimberly Clark warehouse. The city's fire and police department shared that they have arrested a person suspected of arson for igniting the blaze. <br>
Mike Weddell with the Ontario Fire Department said at a press conference that firefighters were able to get to the warehouse within minutes of receiving 9-1-1 calls from workers. However, Weddell said the paper products inside the facility acted as fuels and ignited its spread.
"The fire erupted at an extreme, rapid rate," said Weddell. "We've lost complete integrity of the roof. There has been a collapse that creates a large safety concern for our firefighters. Those walls have lost their structural integrity at this point."
Deputy Chief Mike Weddell, who helps lead operations for Ontario Fire Department (left), and Corporal Emily Williams, spokesperson for Ontario Police Department (right), speaking to the media during a press conference outside of the burned Kimberly-Clark warehouse on Tuesday, Apr. 7, 2026.
Weddell said that about 20 employees on site were evacuated and no one was injured by the fire.
The Ontario Police Department shared that they arrested Abdulkarim after he was reported missing by other workers at the Kimberly-Clark facility. He was booked into the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga after being interrogated by the police and fire departments. He's being held without bail.
Abdulkarim works for NFI Industries, a third-party distributor of Kimberly-Clark's. He was initially reported missing by coworkers when the fire started, according to Ontario PD Corporal Emily Williams.
San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson said the scale of the damage led to the aggravated arson charge.
"Arson, to me, is a real head scratcher," Anderson said. "I do not understand that somebody who is suspected of arson does something where they get no value out of it."
If convicted, Abdulkarim could face 10 years to life in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said his department is also pursuing federal charges and said that Abdulkarim's actions show a "troubling pattern" of people using violence to make political statements.
"Anyone who attacks our values, our way of life, our system which provides the best goods and services to the most people, we're going to come after aggressively," Essayli said.
A video circulating online allegedly shows Abdulkarim igniting materials inside the warehouse. Authorities have not publicly confirmed the video.
"You know, if you're not going to pay us enough to [EXPLETIVE] live, or afford to live, at least pay us enough not to do this shit," a man's voice is heard saying, as they light pallets filled with paper products. "All you had to do is pay us enough to live."
A man who identified himself as "Izzy" and said he worked with Abdulkarim told KVCR he was inside the facility when the fire started and asked not to be fully identified out of fear of retaliation.
"You don't go and commit arson just because your life is horrible," he said. "He could have killed all of us…all 20 people inside."
Kimberly-Clark said in a prepared statement that they are aware of the fire and that they, "are working closely with them and local authorities. We will share additional information as it becomes available."
Air officials said last week that the smoke and ash presented air quality challenges to surrounding neighborhoods and cities near the Kimberly-Clark warehouse.
Abdulkarim is set to be back in court on May 6.
Investigators explore link between Ontario Mills mall fire and Kimberly-Clark incident
The Ontario Police Department said investigators are looking into a possible connection between a fire at Ontario Mills mall and the recent blaze that destroyed the Kimberly-Clark warehouse.
In a press release issued Friday, police said they arrested Luis Javier Gallegos Jr., a 28-year-old resident of Rancho Cucamonga, on suspicion of starting fires inside multiple stores at the mall.
According to the department, officers responded to reports of a fire and quickly located Gallegos at the scene. Authorities said he did not comply with officers and used force to take him into custody.
The department said additional public safety personnel evacuated and closed the mall while firefighters extinguished the fires and checked for additional threats. Videos circulating online appear to show flames inside one of the stores and officers detaining Gallegos.
Gallegos was booked into the West Valley Detention Center. Officials have not yet released details on potential charges.
Police said the investigation remains ongoing, including whether Gallegos may be connected to the earlier fire at the Kimberly-Clark warehouse in Ontario.
