Published April 9, 2026, 6:19 p.m. ET

The disgruntled employee arrested for starting a massive fire that destroyed his company’s sprawling Ontario warehouse has been charged with several counts of felony arson.

Chamel Abdulkarim, 29, faces one count of aggravated arson and six counts of arson involving the willful and malicious burning of buildings or land, according to court records.

A warehouse aisle filled with stacked boxes, with visible flames and smoke.
A warehouse aisle filled with stacked boxes, with visible flames and smoke.
A massive fire engulfs a building, with thick orange and black smoke filling the night sky.
A massive fire engulfs a building

He was being held without bail Thursday and was set to be arraigned in a Rancho Cucamonga courthouse.

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