Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Massive Fire broke out in a Kimberly-Clark paper products warehouse in Ontario, California, early Tuesday morning, April 7, 2026.
The fire was first reported around 1:45 a.m. local time, with other reports stating it was around 12:30 a.m.
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The location of the incident was in the 9500 block of Merrill Avenue.
The warehouse stored flammable paper products, which dramatically accelerated the spread of the fire.
Although no injuries were reported, property damage is estimated to be extensive.
The initial investigation suggests arson, with one employee taken into custody.
Fire Scale and Emergency Response in Ontario
The blaze at the Ontario warehouse reached a six-alarm level, indicating an exceptionally large scale and requiring a massive deployment of resources.
The fire spread so rapidly that firefighters were forced to retreat from the building and assume a defensive position.
More than 100 to 175 firefighters from various agencies were deployed to the scene. Ontario Deputy Fire Chief Mike Wedell confirmed the deployment of more than 140 personnel.
Assistance came from the Riverside County, Chino, San Bernardino County, and Riverside Fire Departments.
The warehouse's size, which covers 1 million to 1.2 million square feet (approximately 92,900 to 111,480 square meters), and its contents of paper products, such as tissues, were major factors in the intensity of the fire.
Investigation into Suspected Arson at Ontario Warehouse
The fire at the Kimberly-Clark warehouse in Ontario, California, was initially considered suspicious by authorities.
The warehouse's sprinkler system was reportedly activated when the fire broke out, but the fire had already spread throughout the warehouse.
The Ontario Police Department told the USA TODAY Network via email that a man, who is also a Kimberly-Clark employee, was arrested on suspicion of arson.
A warehouse employee has been arrested and charged with several counts of felony arson in connection with the incident.
The arrested employee is known to work for a third-party distributor, NFI Industries, which operates the warehouse on behalf of Kimberly-Clark.
Under California law, intentionally and maliciously setting fire to a structure falls under Section 451 of the Criminal Code.
Impact of the Fire and Company Response
Kimberly-Clark shares reportedly fell as much as 5% on Tuesday, hitting a 52-week low below $92.50. This decline occurred after the company confirmed a fire at its California distribution center.
Despite the financial losses, Kimberly-Clark stated that safety is its top priority. The company confirmed that there were no reports of serious injuries from the fire.
NFI Industries, the third-party partner responsible for operating the warehouse, also issued an official statement.
"Safety is our top priority, and we can confirm there are no reported injuries," according to Kimberly-Clark. "The facility is operated by a third-party partner, and we are working closely with them and local authorities. We will share additional information as it becomes available."
Approximately 20 employees were inside the building at the time of the fire, but all were safely evacuated.