Overview
- The 1.2 million‑square‑foot Kimberly‑Clark distribution center that burned early Tuesday is now at the center of parallel arson cases against employee Chamel Abdulkarim, 29.
- Prosecutors say he filmed himself igniting pallets of paper goods and later boasted in texts and calls about costing the company “billions” while complaining about pay.
- Abdulkarim is being held without bail in San Bernardino County custody, and a planned Friday arraignment in state court was continued to Monday for a medical reason.
- Officials estimate roughly $500 million in paper products were destroyed, and the warehouse was a total loss after a roof collapse during a six‑alarm response by about 175 firefighters.
- Kimberly‑Clark says manufacturing sites were not affected, it is relocating workers and rerouting orders, and it plans to detail the financial hit in an April 28 update.