A former employee has reportedly filed a lawsuit against his past employer for lost time and wages after allegedly filming himself setting fire to a massive warehouse in Ontario, citing dissatisfaction with his pay.
Chamel Abdulkarim, 29, is facing significant legal consequences for allegedly igniting the Kimberly-Clark warehouse, which spans around 1.2 million square feet, in the early hours of Tuesday.
A video posted on Abdulkarim’s Instagram shows him setting fire to paper products in the warehouse while making comments about compensation, repeatedly stating, “All you had to do was pay us enough to live.”
Before starting the fire, Abdulkarim worked for an airline services company and had previously expressed concerns about not being compensated for missed breaks, according to court documents.
In 2024, he filed a class-action lawsuit against Prime Flight, which provides various services for airlines and airports, claiming the company failed to provide legally required lunch and break times for hourly employees.
This lawsuit, filed in San Bernardino County, alleges violations of California labor laws. However, it was dismissed in January 2025, suggesting there may have been some form of settlement reached. Specific details about the settlement or Abdulkarim’s role at Prime Flight remain unclear.
Abdulkarim’s lawyer, David Myers, has not provided any comments regarding the case, and Prime Flight has yet to respond to inquiries.
In the Instagram video, Abdulkarim discusses low wages as a significant factor in his decisions, stating, “They might not pay us enough to survive, but this bit is very cheap,” while holding a lighter near the flames.
The police are aware of the video and are looking into the circumstances surrounding the fire.
Authorities described Abdulkarim as an upset employee who shared his frustrations online. He faces multiple charges, including aggravated arson and several counts of intentional arson.
Currently held without bail at the West Valley Detention Center, he is scheduled for arraignment soon. Police apprehended him near the warehouse while the fire was still raging.
Fortunately, there were no reported injuries linked to the incident. About 20 people, including Abdulkarim, were inside the building at the time, though he was initially thought to be missing before being located by law enforcement.
The paper products in the warehouse intensified the fire, creating a dangerous situation that required over 140 firefighters to combat the blaze.
Kimberly-Clark, the owner of well-known brands like Huggies and Kleenex, saw its facility severely damaged. Efforts to extinguish the six-alarm fire extended throughout the day, coordinated by the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office and aided by neighboring firefighting agencies.
