Ontario Mills Mall fire latest: First video of True Religion emerges; suspect details

The Ontario Provincial Police confirmed around noon that emergency crews had the fire under control. “The fire has been extinguished,” police said, adding that the mall “will be closed until further notice” as investigations continue.

Chamel Abdulkarim, 29, of Highland, was charged with intentionally setting the fire, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. He faces federal arson charges involving a building used for interstate and foreign commerce, and a criminal complaint was filed Thursday night.

Investigators say the April 7 fire destroyed a 1.2 million-square-foot distribution facility leased by major home goods manufacturer Kimberly-Clark in Ontario. The warehouse stored a large amount of paper products, but no injuries were reported.

Authorities claim Abdulkarim started multiple fires within the facility, targeting paper cargo pallets and recorded the incident as the flames spread. A federal affidavit further alleges that he shared the video online and made comments critical of wages, corporate profits and working conditions.

The fire quickly engulfed the entire building in what officials described as one of the most destructive warehouse fires in Southern California history. Damage estimates have reached about $500 million.

Abdulkarim was taken into custody Tuesday and remains jailed in San Bernardino County. He is also expected to face related state arson charges in local court. If convicted of the federal charges, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five to 20 years in prison.