Investigators are examining a video posted to social media as part of their investigation into a massive warehouse fire that broke out early Tuesday morning in Ontario. The incident has drawn attention due to footage that appears to show a person inside the facility lighting toilet paper on fire shortly before the blaze spread.
Authorities confirmed that the fire began shortly after 12:30 a.m. near Hellman and Merrill avenues. The flames quickly spread throughout the warehouse, which spans more than one million square feet. Fire crews responded to the scene and worked to contain the blaze, preventing it from spreading to nearby structures. Officials later confirmed that no injuries were reported.
The facility reportedly stored paper-based products, including items from widely recognized household brands. Due to the nature of the materials inside, officials noted that the fire spread rapidly once it began. As a result, the structure sustained extensive damage.
Video Evidence Raises Questions In Massive Warehouse Fire Investigation
Arson investigators say the video circulating online appears to show cases of toilet paper being set on fire inside the warehouse. In the footage, a person can be heard repeatedly stating concerns about wages and living conditions.
“If you’re not going to pay us enough to (expletive) live or afford to live, at least pay us enough not to do this,” the person in the video says.
Authorities are currently reviewing the footage as part of their investigation. However, they have not confirmed whether the individual seen in the video is directly responsible for starting the fire. Officials have also not verified the exact timeline between when the video was recorded and when the fire broke out.
Investigators emphasized that while the video is a key piece of evidence, additional forensic analysis and witness statements will be required to determine the cause of the fire. The case remains active as officials continue to gather information.
Suspect Arrested In Connection To Massive Warehouse Fire
Police have arrested 29-year-old
Chamel Abdul-Karim on suspicion of felony arson. Authorities stated that he was working at the Kimberly-Clark Distribution Center through a third-party company at the time of the incident.
Investigators say they are still working to determine whether Abdul-Karim is the individual shown in the viral video. At this time, officials have not publicly confirmed that connection. The investigation remains ongoing as law enforcement continues to review evidence.
Authorities have not released additional details regarding potential charges beyond the initial arrest. It is also unclear whether additional individuals could be involved.
Co-Worker Describes Events Leading Up To Warehouse Fire
A co-worker of the suspect, identified as :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}, spoke with reporters about the moments leading up to the fire. According to Montero, there was initially no suspicion that Abdul-Karim was involved.
“There was no suspicion that it was him, actually he was missing. So everyone was trying to find him. Everyone was blaming the robots at first. We were almost 100% sure it was the robots until the action in the video of course,” said Alex Montero of San Bernardino.
His statement highlights the confusion among employees during the early stages of the incident. At the time, workers were attempting to understand how the fire started, especially given the automated systems inside the facility.
Officials have not commented on the role of automation or equipment in the fire. However, they continue to interview employees as part of the broader investigation.
