Pye-Barker Fire & Safety has acquired one of the Southeast’s top fire protection companies, Cox Fire Protection. With three locations in Florida, Cox Fire Protection has synergies with Pye-Barker’s nearby branches, enhancing the company’s ability to provide long-term service and maintenance to commercial customers, according to an announcement.

Founded in 1984 by Ron and Linda Cox and led today by their son Scott Cox, Cox Fire Protection works from its branches in Tampa, Ocala and Jacksonville to provide end-to-end installation, service and inspection for fire sprinkler, fire suppression and fire alarm systems. The company also protects businesses through 24-hour monitoring and fire extinguisher service.

“I’m proud to follow in the footsteps of other family-built businesses who have chosen to join Pye-Barker,” said Scott Cox, president at Cox Fire. “Through Cox Fire’s four decades of service, we’ve grown to become a leading fire protection company in our area and work on some of Florida’s most iconic buildings and projects. I’m excited to see how Pye-Barker’s support will fuel us to even bigger projects in the future.”

The Cox Fire team will continue to serve customers in the Southeast.

“Pye-Barker’s growth is inspired by teams like Cox Fire — one that has been successful in its market, embodies an entrepreneurial spirit, has a fantastic culture and is ready to continue to grow with our support,” stated Pye-Barker CEO Bart Proctor. “The entire team here will now be part of our industry’s biggest family business, Pye-Barker, where we honor the legacies of those who came before us and invite our team members to define their own legacies.”

Pye-Barker, with more than more than 200 locations nationwide, ranked and No. 8 on the 2024 SDM 100.