Arson is said to have been the cause of the fire Tuesday that destroyed a 1.2 million square foot distribution center in Ontario, California.
Videos of the fire show dozens of trailers parked at the loading doors of the facility, which is leased by paper goods manufacturer Kimberly-Clark and operated by NFI Industries, a third-party logistics provider based in Camden, New Jersey. There have been reports of several tractor-trailers being destroyed in the fire, which began at about 12:30 a.m. Tuesday.
No injuries were reported. Firefighters continued to battle the fire until late afternoon Tuesday.
At a 5 p.m. press conference Tuesday, Ontario Police Department officials said 29-year-old Chamel Abdulkariim of Highland, California was arrested and charged with multiple arson-related felonies. He is said to be an employee of NFI Industries.
Kimberly-Clark is taking steps to address the supply chain issues caused by the fire.
In a statement today, Kimberly-Clark said, "Kimberly-Clark has activated a response team to manage the situation and minimize customer and consumer impact.
"Kimberly-Clark's supply chain network is designed for continuity during disruptions and mitigating actions are already in motion. The company has activated its coordinated response plans and is working closely with local logistics providers to maintain continuity for customers. Teams have identified alternative locations for inbound shipments and are securing additional warehousing capacity through local partners. The company is working through mitigating any short-term disruptions as these plans are executed."
It's ben reported 175 firefighters responded to the six-alarm blaze at the facility covering some 11 city blocks.
