Fire at Nestle R&D Site in Ohio Causes $300K in Damages

Officials in Solon, OH said a Sept. 13 fire at the Nestle Global Research & Development Center caused an estimated $300,000 in damages, several local news organizations reported. 

Firefighters responded to the facility at about 11 a.m. after receiving a report of a blaze in a piece of equipment, Fire Chief William J. Shaw told the Chargin Valley Times.

The fire ignited in equipment used for heating mineral oil, Shaw said in a report by the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Investigators later determined the incident was an accident. 

Nestle opened the $50 million, 144,000-sq-ft center in the summer of 2015 to develop ways to improve frozen and chilled food products, according to a press release issued by the company. The facility also conducts research on nutrition-related initiatives like the reduction of sodium and partially hydrogenated oils. 

No injuries were reported during the incident, the Plain Dealer reported.

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