OCALA, FL (352today.com) – An automated alarm system and quick thinking by employees helped Ocala Fire Rescue get an early handle on a fire at Ocala-based national food and celebration supplier Signature Brands yesterday.
According to a report from OFR, the agency responded to both an automated monitoring system alert and a hand-pulled alarm at Signature Brands’ plant at 1900 SW 38th Ave. just after 1 a.m. on the morning of Thursday, August 6, 2026.
Firefighters did not witness any visible flames upon arrival, but employees–who had quickly and efficiently evacuated the building–informed them that a pipe from a commercial popcorn machine had overheated and caused a fire inside the ceiling.
The firefighters removed ceiling tiles to access the fire, which they doused with approximately 750 gallons of water before thoroughly checking the building for any more hot spots.
No injuries were reported before or during the response.
“Effective alarm systems and vigilant employees played a key role in minimizing damage during this incident, highlighting the importance of operational fire detection systems and alertness in both commercial and residential spaces,” said an OFR representative in a statement.