Ongoing Fire Response at SPS Technologies in Abington Township
Officials in Montgomery County remain vigilant in monitoring air and water quality in Abington Township, Pennsylvania, as firefighters tirelessly combat a blaze at an industrial site on Tuesday morning. The fire erupted at SPS Technologies on Highland Avenue around 9:30 p.m. on Monday, February 17. Speaking at a press briefing Tuesday morning, Abington Township Police Chief Patrick Molloy noted that the fire had escalated to four alarms by 1 a.m. Nearly 70 fire companies responded throughout the night. Remarkably, all 60 employees present in the building during the outbreak managed to escape unscathed, as acknowledged by Chief Molloy. Thankfully, first responders also reported no injuries. By 7 a.m., the inferno was mostly contained to the building’s core but persisted in smoldering. However, by 11 a.m., the fire had intensified again, with dense black smoke visible from the site.
A shelter-in-place order, issued Monday night, remains active for a one-mile radius surrounding the site. Residents are advised to keep windows shut and stay inside until the restriction is lifted. Updates on the situation will be posted every two hours on the township’s website.
SPS Technologies, known for producing metal equipment for aerospace and other industries, including the military, incorporates chemical processes into its manufacturing. Abington Fire Marshal Chris Platz shared that firefighters have focused efforts on preventing the flames from reaching these chemicals. Currently, there are no detected threats to local air or water quality, though hazmat teams and the Department of Environmental Protection will continue testing throughout the day.
“Please keep all first responders and employees who were inside the building in your thoughts and prayers, and steer clear of the area!” urged Jeffrey Browne, the Ward 6 commissioner of Abington Township, on Facebook. In response to the fire, the Abington Fire Marshal, Montgomery County Hazmat Team, and Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management have ordered the closure of all schools within the Abington and Jenkintown School Districts, as well as private and parochial schools, for Tuesday. Officials aim to have schools reopen by Wednesday, February 19. Similarly, Manor College in Abington Township canceled in-person classes on Tuesday, February 18, shifting to virtual lessons with updates provided via email.
The blaze has also disrupted SEPTA services, halting operations on the Lansdale/Doylestown, West Trenton, and Warminster Regional Rail lines Tuesday morning due to fire department activities near Glenside station. “This could potentially cause further delays across the network,” reported a SEPTA spokesperson. Commuters are encouraged to check SEPTA.org/alerts, the app, or SEPTA’s social media for the latest updates.
SPS Technologies, also known as the Standard Pressed Steel Company, has a long history dating back to its founding in 1903. The plant operates within a vast 560,000-square-foot facility, supplying fasteners and fittings for the aerospace sector.