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Fire chief says Kimberly‑Clark facility blaze was likely arson; mutual aid brought about 175 personnel
Summary
The fire chief reported a large commercial-structure fire at a roughly 1.2 million-square-foot Kimberly‑Clark facility, described rapid spread and defensive operations, said investigators believe the fire was an arson start and that an individual connected to the incident was arrested.
The Ontario Fire Chief reported to the council that early-morning crews responded to a large commercial fire at a Kimberly‑Clark facility that the chief estimated at about 1.2 million square feet.
Chief (S14) said the fire was reported at about 12:30 a.m., firefighters initially attempted an aggressive interior attack but shifted to a defensive posture as fire behavior accelerated. He described a mutual-aid response that included about 20 engine companies, 15 truck companies, 17 chief officers and roughly 175 personnel in total.
“Luckily everybody came out safe. We had as far as I know no injuries, no fatalities and it appears it was an arson start,” the chief told the council. He said investigators and Ontario Police Department investigators worked on the scene and that an individual believed to have started the fire had been arrested; investigators will continue work overnight and into the next day.
Council members praised the coordinated response and the chief said crews would remain on scene to extinguish hot spots. The chief noted the facility’s contents likely contributed to rapid fire spread and said investigators will determine the cause and any criminal liability through their continuing inquiry.
