On Tuesday morning, police apprehended a Kimberly-Clark Corporation employee in relation to a suspected arson incident that devastated a large paper products warehouse in Ontario, California. The fire erupted around 1:45 AM at the facility located on Merrill Avenue, resulting in thick smoke and ash spreading into nearby areas.
Firefighters arrived to find the expansive warehouse, measuring between 1 million and 1.2 million square feet, engulfed in flames. Deputy Chief Mike Wedell reported that the fire escalated rapidly, prompting firefighters to retreat for their safety shortly after entering the building. “Firefighters were quickly overrun by fire throughout this building,” he stated.
Video footage captured the dramatic scene, showing flames consuming the roof and at least one trailer ablaze at the loading dock, with smoke billowing into the sky. The warehouse, which housed paper products like tissues, contributed to the fire's swift spread.
Approximately 20 employees were present during the incident, but fortunately, all escaped unharmed. Initially, one individual was reported missing but was later located safe. No injuries were reported.
Authorities quickly classified the fire as suspicious. “Very early on, we identified this fire as suspicious in nature,” Wedell remarked. Police confirmed that a current employee was taken into custody for questioning by arson investigators.
“At this point, we do have a subject of interest,” Wedell added. The fire response escalated to a six-alarm situation, involving multiple agencies and utilizing drone footage to aid firefighting efforts. By around 5 AM, crews transitioned to a defensive approach, using ladder trucks to combat the flames from above as the fire continued to rage for several hours. Despite the operational sprinkler system, the fire grew rapidly, overwhelming initial firefighting attempts.
