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Citing safety concerns, officials say they’ll let a still-smoldering fire in Ontario warehouse burn itself out

April 15, 2026

The Ontario Fire Department, citing safety concerns and the difficulty in reaching deeply buried debris with water, will let the fire in a warehouse that was set ablaze on April 7 burn itself out.

“It will remain smoldering for quite some time,” Deputy Chief Mike Wedell said on Wednesday. “It’s going to continue to burn in those hard-to-reach places.”

Flames damaged the walls that, for now, remain standing, making sending firefighters inside risky, Wedell said. Additionally, steel and other debris cover the paper products that continue to burn, making it difficult for water to reach the fire.

“Our efforts from a remote, safe location are not effective at this point,” Wedell said.

He could not predict when the fire would be out. Rain would help, and Santa Ana winds could whip up the flames, he said. But there is no threat of the fire spreading, he said, and should the flames grow, firefighters will pounce on them, he said.

The distribution center for paper-goods manufacturer Kimberly-Clark is still smoldering in Ontario, CA, on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, after a fire destroyed the facility on April 7. Chamel Abdulkarim, of Highland, California, was charged by federal authorities with arson of a building used in interstate and foreign commerce. Abdulkarim is accused of intentionally starting multiple fires at a 1.2 million-square-foot warehouse (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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The Fire Department hopes it can turn over the property soon to the owners, NFI Industries, which would be responsible for demolition and debris removal, Wedell said.

Authorities say the fire was intentionally set.

Chamel Abdulkarim, a 29-year-old Highland resident, has pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated arson and arson. He is due back in Superior Court in Rancho Cucamonga on May 6. Police say he filmed himself setting merchandise manufactured by Kimberly-Clark on fire as he complained about the pay he received for working there. Authorities said the fire caused at least $500 million in damage.

Citing safety concerns, officials say they’ll let a still-smoldering fire in Ontario warehouse burn itself out Orange County Register

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Citing safety concerns, officials say they’ll let a still-smoldering fire in Ontario warehouse burn itself out

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