The Flying Horses carousel building in Oak Bluffs was briefly evacuated Wednesday afternoon after a small fire in a popcorn machine.

At about 3:30 p.m. an employee was working on the machine when hot oil ignited.

Flying Horses manager Robin Meader said employees put the fire out with a fire extinguisher.

“We got everybody out of the building,” Ms. Meader said. “Talk about stress.”

The Oak Bluffs fire department responded to check the structure and the equipment. There was no damage to the building, and little damage to the popcorn machine. By 4:30 p.m. the famous carousel was turning once again, to the joy of summer visitors.

The Flying Horses is the nation’s oldest platform carousel, built in 1876, according to the Martha’s Vineyard Preservation Trust, which owns the facility.