A building that houses the Marion County Public Schools Technical Services Department caught on fire shortly before 8 p.m. on Saturday evening.
According to Ocala Fire Rescue, units consisting of Engines 1, 3, 4, and 7, Rescue 3, Tower 1, Squad 7, Battalion Chief 11, and a Safety Officer were dispatched to the area of SW 10th Street and SW 7th Road at 7:53 p.m. due to reports of a fire in the vicinity of Marion Technical College.
A column of black smoke was visible as the units made their way to the scene of the fire. At 7:54 p.m., firefighters arrived at 1101 SW 7th Road and observed that the MCPS Technical Services Department building was on fire.
OFR crew members breached the exterior fence to access the property where the smoke-covered building was located.
There was zero visibility in the environment as firefighters entered the unoccupied building. The firefighters made their way throughout the interior of the building in search of the fire, and the “seed of the fire” was located in the rear center of the building.
Firefighters attacked the flames and managed to contain the fire to the area of origin. Shortly before 8:30 p.m., the incident was under control.
The cause of the fire is unknown.
Marion County Fire Rescue’s Engine 10, Ladder 2, and District 1 assisted with fire operations, and MCFR’s ALS 1 was on standby. The Ocala Police Department also responded.
According to MCPS, approximately 16 employees work inside the building. The employees were not in the building at the time of the fire and no one was injured.
The employees will be relocated until the necessary repairs are completed. No property damage estimates are available at this time.