Demolition of Fire-Destroyed Warehouse Planned
A $500 million warehouse in Southern California, deliberately ignited by an arsonist, is set to be demolished, as announced by city officials.
On April 7, firefighters battled a massive blaze at the Kimberly-Clark Paper Products Warehouse in Ontario. It took 175 firefighters to extinguish the flames, which had evidently been started by unhappy employees demanding pay increases.
City officials revealed about a month later that plans for demolishing the charred structure were underway, even though the smoldering remnants of the six-alarm fire, located near South Hermann and Merrill Avenues in San Bernardino County, still presented a fire danger.
Ontario’s city announcement noted, “We have received reports of smoldering and a possible fire at the Kimberly-Clark warehouse.”
“Demolition by responsible parties is currently pending,” the update added. Furthermore, it advised individuals with respiratory issues to stay clear of the vicinity if possible.
Representatives from Kimberly-Clark, who used the warehouse for stocking items like diapers and toilet paper, have not commented on the situation.
As reported by KTLA, employees of the company were set to conduct an inspection of the site prior to the demolition.
The warehouse itself was valued at around $156 million. At the time of the fire, it was stocked with paper products, and federal prosecutors estimate the total damage caused by the fire at approximately $500 million.
Chamel Abdulkarim, a disgruntled employee accused of starting the fire, is currently held at the West Valley Detention Center on felony arson charges, which could lead to a life sentence if he is found guilty. The 29-year-old appeared in court for the first time on April 13, smiling as he entered a not guilty plea. His next court appearance is scheduled for June.
Prosecutors suggest Abdulkarim may also face federal charges for arson relating to a building used in interstate commerce. They painted him as a radical whose actions were politically motivated, even likening him to another notorious figure. Reportedly, he remarked that he “just cost mothers billions,” referring to the financial impact of the fire.
In a video that allegedly shows him starting the fire, he can be heard declaring that the company “had to pay us enough money to live.”
Abdulkarim was apprehended by authorities near the warehouse while the fire was still raging. He was among about 20 employees present in the building at the time, initially reported missing but soon found by police.
