One pay dispute, $200 million gone: Inside the blaze that shocked California

A worker upset about pay and working conditions allegedly started a huge fire, and police are now treating it as suspected arson. The fire happened at a warehouse in Ontario, California, and a viral video linked to the case is also being reviewed by investigators. The building belongs to Kimberly-Clark and is located near South Hellman Avenue and Merrill Avenue, as reported by the New York Post.

The fire started around midnight inside a massive 1.2-million-square-foot warehouse that stored everyday items like tissues, paper towels, and toilet paper, supplied across the region. The warehouse property is valued at about $156 million (around Rs 1,446 crore), according to Zillow, as cited in Moneycontrol. Police quickly treated the incident as suspicious and identified a person of interest early in the investigation.

Worker arrested after fire seen as suspicious

Authorities arrested 29-year-old Chamel Abdulkarim from Highland. He is now facing two serious arson charges. Police believe he was unhappy with his pay and work conditions. Mike Wedell from the Ontario Fire Department said the fire looked suspicious from the start. He also confirmed that an arrest was made, according to Bloomberg News.


Abdulkarim was first reported missing when the fire broke out but was later found near the warehouse while it was still burning. He was taken into custody and is being held without bail at the West Valley Detention Center, as cited by Moneycontrol. Around 20 workers were inside the warehouse at the time, but all employees safely evacuated and no injuries were reported, according to Kimberly-Clark.

Viral video shows alleged anger over pay

A video posted on an Instagram account under Abdulkarim’s name appears to show him walking through the warehouse and setting items on fire, according to the New York Post. In the video, a voice repeatedly says, “All you had to do was pay us enough to live,” while lighting items. The same video also includes angry remarks about low pay before more items are set on fire.

Authorities are reviewing the viral video as part of the ongoing investigation into the suspected arson case. The incident has led to serious criminal charges and major financial damage linked to the warehouse blaze, according to Moneycontrol.

FAQs

Q1. Who was arrested in the California warehouse fire?

A 29-year-old worker, Chamel Abdulkarim, was arrested for suspected arson at a Kimberly-Clark warehouse in Ontario, California.

Q2. Was anyone injured in the Ontario warehouse fire?

No, about 20 workers safely escaped and no injuries were reported by Kimberly-Clark.