A large-scale fire, believed to be the result of arson, destroyed a 1.2 million square-foot tissue warehouse in Ontario, affecting a strategic facility within the supply chain of Kimberly-Clark.
The six-alarm fire broke out in the early hours of April 7 at a logistics center operated by NFI Industries, a third-party provider for the company. Around 20 employees were present at the time, with no injuries reported.
Authorities indicated that the warehouse stored tissue products supplying approximately 50 million people, underscoring the facility’s importance within the U.S. West Coast distribution network.
According to Bloomberg Intelligence, the incident could disrupt product availability in the region, which accounts for more than 3% of Kimberly-Clark’s U.S. sales, and may lead to increased transportation costs.
Emergency crews arrived at approximately 12:36 a.m. and found the fire already fully developed. Firefighters initially attempted an interior attack but were forced to withdraw due to extreme heat, switching to an external containment strategy.
A total of 175 firefighters responded to the incident, which was brought under control at around 7:46 a.m. Authorities advised nearby residents, particularly children and the elderly, to remain indoors due to ash in the air.
Regarding the cause, a suspect was arrested and charged with multiple arson-related offenses. Authorities identified the individual as an employee linked to the logistics operation at the site.
Kimberly-Clark stated that the fire did not affect its manufacturing assets and confirmed that contingency plans were activated to minimize disruption. The company emphasized that its supply chain network is designed to ensure continuity and that it is working closely with logistics partners to maintain service levels.
