Suspect in Custody Following Major Warehouse Blaze in Ontario, CA

ONTARIO, Calif. — A person suspected of arson was taken into custody following a dramatic blaze at a warehouse in Ontario, California, which demanded an extensive response from emergency personnel throughout the night.

The Ontario Fire Department reported the fire erupted around 12:30 a.m. on Tuesday near Hellman and Merrill avenues. Over 100 firefighters were deployed to tackle the inferno, which lit up the surroundings with a vivid orange glow.

Firefighters continued to combat the blaze for several hours as it ravaged the 1.2 million-square-foot warehouse.

Witnesses in the vicinity reported hearing a loud explosion at the onset of the fire, leading to multiple emergency calls.

“The nature of the fire was quickly deemed suspicious,” stated Deputy Chief Mike Wedell. “An individual of interest was swiftly identified and subsequently apprehended.”

Wedell added that individual was taken to the police department to be interviewed by detectives.

The warehouse itself is a Kimberly-Clark site, a company that specializes in paper-based personal care and hygiene products.

There were employees inside the warehouse when the fire started, but they all managed to safely evacuate.