A massive fire, believed to be arson, has completely destroyed a 1.2 million-square-foot tissue paper warehouse in Ontario, California, on April 7. The warehouse, operated by Kimberly-Clark, provides paper products to approximately 50 million people.
Authorities reported no injuries, but the blaze has caused significant disruptions to the company’s supply chain, potentially leading to shortages and higher transportation costs.
The Incident and Its Impact
The six-alarm fire broke out early in the morning at a facility leased by Kimberly-Clark, a leading personal care and hygiene company. Despite the severity of the fire, no injuries were reported among the 20 employees present at the time.
The warehouse stored paper products, including brands like Cottonelle toilet paper, Kleenex tissues, and Viva paper towels.
Diana Gomes, a senior industry analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, warned that the fire could cause supply shortages for over 3% of Kimberly-Clark’s sales in the United States.
Additionally, it could lead to increased transportation costs. The company, headquartered in Irving, Texas, has initiated response plans to minimize consumer impact.
Arson Charges and Investigation
Chamel Abdulkarim, a 29-year-old resident of Highland, California, was arrested and charged with multiple arson-related offenses. Abdulkarim, who was employed by NFI Industries (a third-party logistics provider for Kimberly-Clark), is currently being held without bail.
The Ontario Fire Department is investigating the cause of the fire, which is suspected to be deliberate.
Kimberly-Clark confirmed that the warehouse was operated by NFI Industries, and the fire did not affect any of its manufacturing equipment. The company’s response team is actively working to manage the disruption to its supply chain.
Firefighting Efforts
The Ontario Fire Department responded to the fire at 12:36 a.m. on April 7, finding a well-established blaze within the Kimberly-Clark warehouse.
Firefighters initially attempted to fight the fire from inside the structure but were forced to retreat due to extreme heat. The fire was eventually tackled from the outside using high-volume master streams.
A total of 175 firefighters, 20 engine companies, 15 truck companies, and 17 chief officers responded to the fire, with additional investigators joining the effort.
The fire was finally contained by 7:46 a.m. However, residents, particularly children and seniors, were advised to stay indoors due to the significant ash in the air.
Kimberly-Clark’s Response
Kimberly-Clark issued a statement acknowledging the disruption caused by the fire. The company reassured customers that its supply chain network is designed for continuity during disruptions.
They have activated their coordinated response plans and are working closely with local logistics providers to ensure minimal impact on consumers.
