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An employee set 1.2 million-square-feet warehouse to fire after not getting a pay hike. A massive fire tore through a warehouse in Ontario, California, early Tuesday, leading to the arrest of a 29-year-old employee on arson charges. The blaze, which started around 12:30 am, caused extensive damage, forced emergency evacuations. A video allegedly showing the suspect setting the fire and venting anger over wages has now surfaced online.
Why employee set warehouse to fire? What happened
Authorities say Chamel Abdulkarim, a warehouse worker from Highland, was taken into custody shortly after the fire broke out at the 1.2 million-square-foot facility near South Hellman Avenue and Merrill Avenue. The warehouse, valued at around $156 million, stores essential paper products like tissues and toilet paper for millions of consumers.
Nearly 20 employees were inside when the fire started, but no injuries were reported. Abdulkarim was initially reported missing before being located near the site while the fire was still raging. He is currently being held without bail.
Employee setting warehouse on fire video captures anger over wages
Investigators are examining videos circulating on social media that appear to show the suspect walking through the warehouse, setting fire to stacks of products.
In the footage, a voice repeatedly says, “All you had to do was pay us enough to live.” The person is also heard making further angry remarks while lighting items on fire, as flames quickly spread across highly combustible paper goods.
At one point, a walkie-talkie transmission can be heard in the background: “We’ve got a fire in the warehouse,” while additional fires ignite in different parts of the facility.
Authorities believe the video is authentic and are using it as part of the investigation.
Fire grows into six-alarm emergency
The blaze escalated rapidly, forcing firefighters to retreat due to intense flames and structural risks. The fire eventually turned into a six-alarm emergency, drawing around 175 firefighters from multiple departments.
The building’s roof collapsed as the fire spread, destroying vast quantities of stored goods. Officials estimate losses exceeding $600 million, including both inventory and infrastructure.
Economic ripple effects begin to show
Early assessments suggest the incident could disrupt supply chains, particularly for paper-based consumer goods on the West Coast. The facility plays a key role in distributing products to nearly 50 million people.
Market reaction was immediate, with Kimberly-Clark shares falling 4.1 per cent following the incident.
Employee sent chilling messages
According to authorities, Abdulkarim also sent messages to a co-worker after the fire, reportedly comparing himself to Luigi Mangione, who is facing charges in an unrelated high-profile murder case in 2024.
Officials confirmed that multiple videos posted online show a man lighting toilet paper and other materials inside the warehouse, with smaller fires already burning in the background.