Warehouse Fire in Ontario, California
A large six-alarm fire erupted at a warehouse in Ontario, California, early Tuesday morning, resulting in one employee being taken into custody. Flames were seen consuming the roof of the Kimberly-Clark Consumer Products facility as thick smoke billowed into the night sky.
Emergency crews responded to the enormous approximately 1.2 million square foot building around 12:30 a.m. Upon arrival, they discovered that the fire had already penetrated the roof, according to reports.
Firefighters from the San Bernardino County Fire Department worked alongside the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office and support from neighboring agencies to combat the blaze, which involved paper products. In an effort to assist with the firefighting, authorities utilized drone footage.
The facility housed various paper products, including tissues, which likely contributed to the rapid spread of the fire.
As the situation developed, firefighters adjusted to a defensive strategy around 5 a.m., using ladder trucks to spray water from above as they battled the flames, which continued to rage for hours.
At the time of the incident, approximately 20 employees were inside the building. Thankfully, everyone managed to evacuate safely, and there were no reported injuries. Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office Deputy Chief Mike Wedell mentioned that, while the sprinkler system was functioning, the intensity of the fire was overwhelming, prompting a shift in tactics.
Officials are treating the incident as an act of arson, and a suspect has been apprehended. Ontario Fire Marshal Deputy Chief Mike Wedell stated, “We have a topic of interest at this point.” The individual was arrested and is currently awaiting questioning by detectives.
Fire authorities continue to investigate the situation further, with updates expected as more information becomes available.
