Community leaders will hold a public community meeting on Monday, March 10th at 7:00 P.M. at the Jenkintown Library: 460 York Rd, Jenkintown, PA 19046.  This will be an opportunity to discuss the SPS Fire Incident and related concerns. Borough Council worked with Senator Haywood’s office to schedule this community meeting. Senator Haywood will be in attendance, also in attendance will be the offices of State Representative Napoleon Nelson and Benjamin Sanchez. While their attendance has not been confirmed at the time of this notification, a Representative from Governor Shapiro’s office and the Pa DEP have also been invited to attend. Thank you all as we work together for a safe and healthy path forward for the community.

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

I wanted to share some of the SPS updates that came into my office over the weekend. As we move into this second week, the site response is shifting from a fire incident to a test, remediate and clean-up effort. My communications will become far less frequent. I encourage you to keep an eye on the SPS site hosted by the state and on the Jenkintown, Cheltenham, or Abington township websites.

Finally, before I get to the updates, I want to recognize that there were approximately 500 people that were employed at SPS that are now looking for work and opportunities to provide for their families. If you’re one of them, we’re here for you. Please reach out to my office, and we’ll do everything we can to assist you.

On to the formal update. My staff and I have heard your concerns regarding the environmental impacts of the SPS fire. After reaching out to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the state agency that is helping oversee the ongoing air and water testing, I wanted to share some updates with the community on what is being done.

The fire at SPS Technologies, located at 301 Highland Ave., was extinguished over the weekend. Please remember there is absolutely no trespassing on the site. Sections of the SPS Technologies building are structurally compromised, and it is an active investigation scene.

 DEP sampled four surface water locations on Feb. 18 and 19:

1. A sample from Baeder Creek upstream of SPS. This represents the sample location representing background water quality.
2. A sample from the confluence of Baeder Creek and the main branch of the Tookany Creek at the railroad bridge, downstream of SPS.
3. A sample from the Tookany Creek at the Greenwood Ave Bridge near the Jenkintown-Wyncote SEPTA Station, downstream of SPS.
4. A sample from the Delaware Ave (Hedley St) Bridge in Frankford Creek near the confluence of the Delaware River, the furthest downgradient surface water sampling location.

According to DEP, all samples collected on Feb. 19 meet all human health and water quality criteria. DEP has determined that there is no risk to drinking water. Plans are being developed for conducting surface water sampling long term. The full testing results have been posted on DEP’s community page for the SPS fire on the department’s SPS Technologies page.

Air quality monitors have not detected any chemicals of concern in air outside of the facility. Air monitoring will continue at the facility and in the community through the cleanup process to ensure the safety of both the workers and community.

Air quality is being monitored by both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and SPS. The EPA is monitoring air quality at two downgradient monitoring locations in Jenkintown. The data is currently being reviewed and quality checked by EPA and will be posted on DEP’s community page when it is finalized. Data has been monitored in real time to evaluate public health impacts, and no actionable levels were observed. SPS is conducting onsite and perimeter air monitoring that will continue for the foreseeable future. There are currently seven monitors in place, and additional monitoring locations are in the process of being added.

If residents have concerns about dust or small pieces of fire debris, they should contact SPS via its hotline at 215-572-3326 or via email at contactSPS@ppcairframe.comcreate new email. SPS also has its own website with news and updates. If there are large pieces of debris present, residents should leave the debris in place and contact 9-1-1, as large pieces of debris may be needed for the fire investigation. SPS and Jenkintown Borough are coordinating debris removal and cleanup in the community.

Jenkintown Borough officials are providing an update to residents regarding debris management and mitigation following the fire at SPS Technologies, which began on the evening of Monday, February 17, 2025.

All residents in Jenkintown Borough who encounter debris from the fire are instructed to call 911. The Jenkintown Police Department is logging all debris-related calls, and personnel will address every location over the next several days during business hours. Inspections are scheduled to begin soon.

A team consisting of the Borough Fire Marshal and an environmental contractor secured by SPS Technologies will conduct inspections. Residents may request an air quality test inside their homes during the visit. Otherwise, the team will inspect the debris for evidentiary purposes. Residents are encouraged to document debris with photos and, if there is property damage, to contact their homeowners insurance. It is advised not to touch or remove any debris.

Priority for debris inspection will first be given to the Jenkintown School District property, followed by residences within the evacuation zone. Every location will be addressed.

Jenkintown Police Chief Tom Scott stated, “We understand that this situation brings uncertainty and concerns to our community. Please know that we are fully committed to addressing every question and ensuring the safety and well-being of our residents. We appreciate your patience as we work through this incident and move forward with recovery efforts.”

There are no drinking water quality or air quality risks to the public at this time. However, residents are advised to avoid the area surrounding SPS Technologies, located at 301 Highland Avenue. Due to the incident and damage to the building, the area is considered dangerous. Fencing, barricades, and security personnel are in place to ensure public safety.

Abington Township’s website remains the primary source of information regarding the SPS Technologies fire. For press releases, FAQs, and links to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) website, please visit abingtonpa.gov/SPSupdates. SPS Technologies has also established a community hotline at 215-572-3326 and can be reached via email at contactSPS@pccairframe.comcreate new email.

For further information, please contact:
Jenkintown Police Chief Thomas M. Scott
Phone: 215-884-1202
Email: tscott@jenkintownpd.orgcreate new email

A PDF version of this press release may be viewed/downloaded/printed opens in a new windowhere.opens PDF file

ABINGTON, PA: As of February 20, 2025, at 9:30 AM, the fire at SPS Technologies located at 301 Highland Avenue remains active but is contained and investigations are ongoing. Highland Avenue in the area of SPS will be closed for the foreseeable future. A full list of road closures and detours is available at opens in a new windowwww.abingtonpa.gov/SPSupdates.

Emergency personnel have worked through the night and will continue to work to ensure public safety. The shelter-in-place and evacuation recommendation remain lifted at this time. Today, fire operations will shift to address the most immediate fire hot spots within the building. In order for fire suppression equipment to reach these locations, some demolition of the building will take place. Demolition will be carefully coordinated and overseen by all agencies, engineers, and responders on site. This is a necessary step to extinguishing the fire.

We cannot emphasize enough that there is absolutely no trespassing on the site and will be strictly enforced. All trespassers create a safety risk for all the emergency responders and public. Sections of the SPS Technologies building are structurally compromised and it is an active emergency scene as operations continue to unfold.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continues to monitor air quality. Based on the data collected, the monitoring equipment has not detected levels of contaminants of public concern. Additional air monitoring equipment has been placed on site and around the area by third-party environmental consultants.

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) conducted an initial sampling of the Tookany Creek on February 18; low levels of chemicals of concern were found in the creek immediately downstream of the fire at that time. There are no drinking water intakes from Tookany Creek.

DEP resampled the creek on Wednesday, February 19 and the results of those tests are not yet available. Samples taken from the Delaware River did not detect any chemicals of concern. The DEP has published their website regarding this incident which contains additional air and water quality information at opens in a new windowhttps://www.pa.gov/agencies/dep/about-dep/regional-office-locations/southeast-regional-office/southeast-community-information/sps-technologies.html.

Drinking water supplies are not at risk. Aqua, Pennsylvania, the water provider in Abington, Jenkintown and Cheltenham has provided the following statement regarding drinking water:
“Aqua Pennsylvania is monitoring the situation in Abington Township, Montgomery County as investigators respond to the fire at SPS Technologies. Aqua responded to the scene late Monday night and concluded that there is currently no risk to drinking water in the surrounding area. We will continue to monitor the situation and will alert customers of any drinking water quality concerns. Customers should continue to check our website for updates. Aqua’s systems performed as designed to support the enormous water flow needed as fire companies responded to the blaze. Due to the firefighting effort, some customers in the area may experience lower than normal water pressure. We thank the first responders for braving frigid conditions as they worked to control this situation.”
SPS Technologies has established a community hotline for questions, comments or concerns. Residents can call 215-572-3326 or email contactSPS@pccairframe.comcreate new email.

More detailed information will be provided at a press conference scheduled for today, February 20, 2025, at 12 PM at the Abington Township Municipal Building located at 1176 Old York Road, Abington, PA 19001. The press conference is media only and is not open to the public. The press conference will be streamed live on the Township’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AbingtonTownship. The press conference will be filmed and posted to Township outlets. Any further updates will be posted at www.abingtonpa.gov/SPSupdates and on Township social media on Facebook and Instagram @AbingtonTownship and on X @AbingtonPA .

Please sign up for notifications about emergencies, disasters, and community information through Ready Montco Alert System at readymontco.org.

For media inquiries, please contact Ashley McIlvaine, Assistant Township Manager, at amcilvaine@abingtonpa.govcreate new email or 267-536-1004.

A PDF version of this press release can be viewed/printed/downloaded opens in a new windowhere.opens PDF file

ABINGTON, PA: On Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at 11:00 AM, the Shelter-in-Place and Evacuation recommendations will be lifted for those homes and businesses in the area affected by the fire at SPS Technologies at 301 Highland Avenue. This decision was made in consultation with federal, state, county and local officials including the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and HAZMAT teams.

Residents in the Evacuation zone may return to their homes and residents and businesses in the Shelter-in-Place zone may resume normal activities. 

The EPA and DEP will continue to monitor air and water conditions to ensure public safety. No hazards have been detected in the area surrounding the fire and the area has been deemed safe.  If conditions change, the public will be notified immediately of protective actions to be taken.

Residents who need assistance returning to their homes may call 610-635-4300.

Further updates will be posted at www.abingtonpa.gov/SPSupdates, on Township social media on Facebook and Instagram @AbingtonTownship and on X @AbingtonPA.

For media inquiries, please contact Ashley McIlvaine, Assistant Township Manager, at  opens in a new windowamcilvaine@abingtonpa.govcreate new email or 267-536-1004.

opens in a new windowPlease click here to view the press release document.