SPS Technologies

What Happened

On February 17, 2025, a fire broke out at SPS Technologies, a manufacturing company in Jenkintown that produces fasteners and other materials for the aviation industry, located at at 301 Highland Avenue in Abington Township, Montgomery County. The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) and DEP both dispatched emergency response personnel to the scene to help monitor air and water quality and to assist the county and municipality as needed.

For updates on any guidance from local authorities and information about help for affected Pennsylvanians, please visit Abington Township’s website for this incident at abingtonpa.gov/spsupdates.

Soil Sampling

On March 14, 15, 17, and 18, 2025, DEP personnel provided oversight of soil sampling conducted by TRC Companies, Inc. (TRC), contractors working on behalf of SPS at locations in the vicinity of the SPS Facility. DEP received results for the Abington Friends School and Jenkintown Elementary School properties from SPS technologies on April 15, 2025.  On April 17, and April 18, DEP received laboratory reports and a preliminary sample summary spreadsheet from SPS.  

• March 19, 2025 - DEP Narrative Report March 14 and March 15, 2025, SPS Soil Activities (PDF)
• March 20, 2025 - DEP Narrative Report March 17 and March 18, 2025, SPS Activities (PDF)

On March 18, 2025, DEP collected its own soil samples from residential, park, and school properties. Samples were collected in accordance with DEP’s Sampling and Analysis Plan (PDF). DEP’s soil samples were analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), cyanide, metals, and asbestos. DEP’s Sampling Evaluation Report, dated May 13, 2025, presents findings of a comprehensive review of all available data in the area to evaluate whether any of the exceedances are related to the fire at SPS Technologies.

Samples by DEP and TRC on behalf of SPS Technologies were collected from the following:

• School properties: Jenkintown School District & Abington Friends
• Public Properties: Wall Park, Cedar Street Moretti Park, Jenkintown Town Square,
• Hallowell Park, Cheese Playground 
• Knights of Columbus/ Immaculate Conception
• 13 residential properties

The results indicated the following:

• All of DEP’s samples collected from the Jenkintown Elementary/Middle/High school property were below DEP’s Act 2 Statewide health standards (Act 2 Standards).
• In all of the samples, there were no exceedances of cyanide of the Act 2 Standards, and asbestos was not detected.
• Arsenic was detected above Act 2 Standards in samples collected from the Abington Friends School, Jenkintown Town Square, Jenkintown School District Property, Hallowell Park and 2 residential properties.
• Lead was detected above Act 2 Standards in samples collected from 6 residential properties.
• Benzo(b)fluoranthene, a PAH, was detected above Act 2 Standards in samples collected from the Hallowell Park and the Knights of Columbus/ Immaculate Conception property.

Based on DEP’s review of the data, the arsenic, PAH, and lead concentrations appear to be consistent with background conditions indicative of urban environments and to be unrelated to the fire. At this time DEP recommends the following:

• Park visitors and school children should be discouraged from eating soil or placing soil in their mouths. All visitors should wash their hands after park activities. Exposures can also be reduced by covering bare soil with grass, mulch or other soil covering in areas where children play.
  
  
• Residents with elevated soil lead concentrations should follow precautions such as washing hands after working or playing in the dirt (like gardening) or removing footwear before entering the home. Areas where children play should be covered with grass, mulch or clean soil to reduce exposures. Additional precautions are outlined in the following fact sheets: EPA Lead in Soil, Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Yard, Safe Gardening in Lead-Contaminated Soils, and ARSENIC in the garden.
  
  
• Property owners with further concerns about environmental conditions should contact an environmental consultant to perform additional environmental investigation and/or remediation activities. 

Storage Tanks

At the time of the fire, SPS had 13 regulated storage tanks registered with DEP. In response to the fire, DEP requested the facility to have the storage tanks remaining in service to be inspected by a DEP-certified inspector. On Feb 28, 2025, DEP performed a site visit to observe the inspections performed by the DEP-certified inspector.  During the site visit, we confirmed that two of the registered storage tanks contained waste oil, which makes those aboveground storage tanks exempt. We also confirmed that three of the tanks contained less than one inch of product and could be placed into temporarily out-of-service status (T-status). Based on the inspector’s observations, he determined the integrity of the storage tanks did not appear to be affected by the fire.  With plans to close their water treatment plant, SPS is working on properly emptying the remaining regulated storage tanks, and eventually closing these tanks in accordance with DEP regulations.

• February 28, 2025 - 46-40127 SPS Tanks Inspection Report (PDF)

Clean Water

DEP conducted in stream sampling on March 6, 2025, following a rain event. sample locations for this event included one immediately upstream of the facility, two immediately downstream, and one location further downstream on the Tookany Creek below the Church Rd. bridge. Preliminary results indicated no detectible Dissolved Hexavalent Chromium, Total Cyanide and Weak Acid Dissociable Cyanide in any of the stream samples. Preliminary results also indicate no detectible Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in the stream samples associated with the materials stored on site. The final results have concurred with the preliminary findings. For the final results, see the SPS Inspection Report with Sampling Results (PDF).

Commonwealth Response

Representatives from the Shapiro Administration, including PEMA and DEP, remained on site and coordinated with township and county responders to help monitor air and water quality. Governor Shapiro actively engaged with local authorities and remained in touch with leaders in Abington.

DEP coordinated its emergency response with other agencies including the EPA, Montgomery and Chester County hazmat teams.

DEP's Emergency Response Team personnel remained on site through March 6, 2025. SPS is actively pumping water used to put out the fire into holding tanks to prevent any material from entering Tookany Creek. The wastewater treatment facility on site is still operational and unaffected by the fire, and will be utilized to treat the fire water before it is sent to the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) for disposal.

There remains no concerns for air quality or drinking water.

The fire was extinguished. Once the fire had been fully extinguished, emergency response operations demobilized, and the building was cleared for entry. DEP initiated follow-up inspections. Both DEP and DEP-certified third-party inspectors assessed the facility's storage tanks, to ensure the proper disposal of any remaining chemicals and debris, supervised the removal of asbestos, and collaborated with SPS on the development of future plans for the site.

Water Quality

Drinking water supplies are not at risk. Samples taken from the confluence with the Delaware River did not detect any chemicals of concern. DEP and PWD continue to monitor the creek and river.

On February 18, 2025, DEP and PWD conducted initial sampling of Tookany Creek; preliminary samples collected by DEP indicated low levels of chemicals of concern were found in the creek immediately downstream of the fire. DEP re-sampled the creek on February 19, 2025. For results, see February 18-19, 2025, DEP CN Sampling Results (PDF) and February 18-19, 2025, DEP VOC Sampling Results (PDF). Moving forward, SPS technologies will be conducting long-term monitoring with DEP oversight. SPS posts the results of their water monitoring here: SPS Updates - Water Monitoring.

There are no drinking water intakes from Tookany Creek downstream of the fire. The nearest drinking water intake is several miles upstream of the confluence of Tookany Creek and the Delaware River. PWD is monitoring the situation and will take action if necessary.

Tookany Creek Sampling Results:

DEP analyzed water samples from Tookany Creek for Total Cyanide and Weak Acid Dissociable Cyanide. DEP analyzed for these compounds to establish if there was an immediate risk to surface water. Sample locations were chosen to have a comparison between unaffected surface water and monitor water entering the Delaware River. Levels below 0.01 mg/l cannot be detected.

Samples from Tuesday, February 18 were collected in the immediate aftermath of the fire and any runoff of fire water to the creek. Samples from Wednesday, February 19 show a sharp dropoff in any contaminants of concern. Again, there are no drinking water intakes downstream of the fire.

Based on the results of sampling by both DEP and its partners, DEP has determined that there is no risk to drinking water. DEP continues to work closely on water quality with the City of Philadelphia, which is conducting its own sampling on the Delaware River.

Air Quality

Air quality monitors have not detected any chemicals of concern in the air outside of the facility. DEP will continue to review SPS's monitoring of air quality.

DEP coordinated with the EPA on initial emergency on air quality monitoring. EPA had two fixed sites for air monitoring in the community southeast (downwind) of the facility. One monitoring location was on the railroad tracks between the plant and the houses approximately 100 meters southeast of the plant and the second location was next to the Jenkintown Middle/High school complex. Bucks County’s Hazmat Team also conducted roving monitoring with handheld meters.

• EPA Air Quality Monitoring Results

• SPS conducted air monitoring for:  Particulate matter (PM 10, 2.5) Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN), Chlorine (Cl₂), Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), Hydrogen Sulfide (H₂S), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Sulfuric Acid, and flammability as a percentage of lower explosive limit (%LEL). SPS posts the results of the air monitoring they perform here SPS Updates - Air Monitoring.

On March 28, 2025, DEP AQ met with SPS to view and discuss their “Demolition and Deconstruction Activities” air monitoring plan dated March 25, 2025. SPS stated that they would submit an amended plan to address our feedback prior to any demolition.

On April 9, 2025, SPS transitioned from 3rd party contractor CTEH to TRC and began following the air monitoring plan dated March 25, 2025.

On May 8, 2025, SPS submitted their “Air Monitoring Plan During Demolition and Deconstruction Activities” dated May 7, 2025, to address DEP’s feedback. SERO AQ and BAQ Air Monitoring Division are currently reviewing this plan. SPS has not begun any demolition to date.  SPS indicated that they would not proceed with any demolition until DEP has reviewed their revised plan.

DEP will continue to monitor SPS's air monitoring results to ensure public safety. No hazards have been detected in the area surrounding the fire and the area has been deemed safe.

Solid Waste Management

DEP conducted an inspection (PDF) of waste storage and handling activities at SPS Technologies on March 5, 2025.  Roll-off waste containers being staged in the parking area located on the southwest side of the building were properly labeled and provided with secondary containment. Roll-offs were either sealed or lined and tarped. No spills or leaks were observed.

Another Waste inspection was conducted on April 1, 2025 (PDF). Materials were being properly managed and no issues were noted. 

At our request, SPS provided a Waste Management Plan (PDF) and a Plating Area Work Plan (PDF). DEP continues to monitor the hazardous and residual waste removed and disposed from the facility.

Please note that a spreadsheet titled “Jenkintown List of Chemicals(2965921.3)” (XLSX) listing chemicals located on the SPS site was provided to DEP.

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