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. 

ABINGTON, PA: As of February 18, 2025 at 8:00 PM, the fire at SPS Technologies located at 301 Highland Avenue remains active and investigations are ongoing. Emergency personnel continue to work around the clock to ensure public safety.

The shelter-in-place for residents and businesses within a one (1) – mile radius remains in effect. All residents are asked to continue to avoid the area. The shelter in place zone map can be viewed at opens in a new windowwww.abingtonpa.gov/SPSshelterinplacezone.

The evacuation recommendation remains in effect. A map of the evacuation area can be viewed at www.abingtonpa.gov/SPSevacuationzone. The evacuation shelter in the gymnasium at Cheltenham High School located at 500 Rices Mill Rd, Wyncote, PA 19095 will remain open through the night.

At the direction of the Abington Township Emergency Operations Center and Jenkintown Emergency Management, Abington School District, Jenkintown School District, and Cheltenham School District will be closed tomorrow, Wednesday, February 19, 2025.
The air quality continues to be monitored by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is on-site, working with local hazmat teams to monitor air quality, water runoff, and hazardous materials for public health risks and performing water sampling. Thus far, no threats to public health or safety have been detected.

This is a large emergency response with many responding agencies, fire companies and police departments. We thank all of our federal, state, county and municipal partners for their mutual aid and assistance. We appreciate the understanding and cooperation of our residents and business community and your outpouring of support.

Updates regarding the shelter-in-place recommendation and the status of the fire will be provided at the Township website at opens in a new windowwww.abingtonpa.gov, on Township social media on Facebook and Instagram @AbingtonTownship and on X @AbingtonPA. Any change to the shelter-in-place or evacuation recommendation will be communicated through the Ready Montco alert system to those within the affected zones. The next update will be provided tomorrow morning, February 19, unless there is a significant change. A press conference for media only will be held at 10 AM at the Abington Township Municipal Building located at 1176 Old York Road, Abington, PA 19001. This is not open to the public. The press conference will be filmed and posted to Township outlets.

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

JENKINTOWN & ABINGTON, PA: Due to changing conditions and concerns of air quality, the Abington Township Emergency Operations Center and Jenkintown Emergency Management are advising all residents and businesses in the locations below to voluntarily evacuate within the hour while conditions permit.

The evacuation area is depicted by a red outline within the map below and includes the following streets:

• Stewart Avenue
• Runnymede Avenue
• Florence Avenue between Runnymede Avenue and West Avenue
• Highland Avenue between Hillside Ave and West Avenue
• Rodman Avenue between Walnut Street and Runnymede Avenue
• Hillside Avenue between Florence Avenue and Walnut Street
• Myrtle Avenue between Runnymede Avenue and Rodman Avenue

The evacuation shelter will be at the auditorium at Cheltenham High School located at 500 Rices Mill Rd, Wyncote, PA 19095. Residents, who are able, are asked to self-evacuate by driving to the high school or a location outside of the one-mile radius surrounding SPS Technologies site, located at 301 Highland Ave Jenkintown. Transportation will be provided to residents who are unable to self-evacuate. Please call 610-635-4300 if you need transportation to the evacuation center. Leashed or crated pets are allowed at the evacuation shelter. Emergency responders will be going door to door to assist residents in the impacted area.

When evacuating, please ensure you bring at least two days worth of any prescription medications or necessary medical devices and identification. Residents are encouraged to bring a change of clothes and any leashes, medications, and food for pets. All residents and businesses outside of the evacuation area but within one mile of the SPS Technologies site, are asked to continue to shelter in place. All residents are asked to avoid the area. The shelter in place map can be viewed opens in a new windowhere.

Updates regarding the shelter-in-place recommendation and the status of the fire will be provided at the Township website at  opens in a new windowwww.abingtonpa.gov, on Township social media on Facebook and Instagram @AbingtonTownship and on X @AbingtonPA. A press conference for media only will be held at 4 PM at the Abington Township Municipal Building located at 1176 Old York Road, Abington PA 19001. This is not open to the public. The press conference will be filmed and posted to Township outlets. Any change to the shelter-in-place will be communicated through the Ready Montco alert system to those within a one-mile radius.

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

If you have an emergency dial 911.