SPS Technologies Fire Meeting Draws 150 Residents

ABINGTON TOWNSHIP, PA —Nearly 800 residents responded to a community survey about 150 people attended a recent community meeting about the SPS Technologies fire.

Abington Township Ward 13 Commissioner Bill Bole said the recent meeting —hosted by the Greater Glenside Civic Association, Commissioner Matt Vahey, and Bole —said residents raised questions about personal safety (especially but not exclusively downwind), the environmental and economic impact from the fire and future plans.

Nearly 70 area fire companies last month fought the SPS Technologies fire on Highland Avenue that damaged the company's 600,000-square-foot building. Since the fire, SPS Technologies announced that it was laying off 250 of its 500 employees.

Bole —who serves as one of the commissioners where the fire took place —said that residents expressed concerns at the meeting about several “nuisance” issues, including when would Highland Avenue reopen, how is traffic being controlled, and floodlights that stay on late at night.

Bole said residents did receive some answers to their concerns:

• SPS Technologies has rights as the property owners to rebuild. Because of the extent of the damage, they would likely have to do so in compliance with zoning regulations.
• SPS has given early signals of interest in rebuilding, but this is not a sure bet. Many more decision points to pass through.
• There is a solid number of residents who want to explore assets the community could use to dissuade SPS from rebuilding.
• The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing. The Fire Marshall is looking to have a public statement/report in a couple of weeks to share what is known and what may not be able to be known.
• An early look at the economic impact indicates that the loss of tax revenue from the fire (or if SPS did not rebuild) would not, in and of itself, necessitate an Abington Township tax increase. "We are well diversified. We continue to look at these details though and to develop models," Bole said.
• Two teenagers asked excellent questions. "So great to see," Bole said.
• Several personal questions about one’s soil safety in their yard, contents of air in one’s home, etc., were asked. "These are very difficult to answer with specificity," Bole said. "Some residents are seeking out personal tests."
• Air is being monitored. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has calibrated SPS testing equipment and reviewed data, which should help to build confidence that the data SPS is providing is accurate. (A couple of questions came up about whether the data was “snapshot” data or “continual monitoring.” Officials are seeking answers.)
• SPS tests continue to indicate that the air is safe. Commissioners Vahey and Bole are in touch with the EPA n touch with the EPA to get more expansive answers to the questions that were asked.
• SPS needs to get several of their machines going immediately, particularly machines that are the only ones in the country producing several parts. "Their work is directly tied to so much of the aviation industry and to Boeing bouncing back, in particular," Bole said.
• Bole said officials are not certain whether the Hallowell fields will be able to open this spring but a final call has not been made yet. This is not because of environmental dangers but rather logistics, including parking.

Bole said the survey data shared at the meeting is being prepared to be shared in full, publicly.

"Residents will have access to the answers submitted," Bole said. "Everything will be depersonalized and emails not included (for obvious reasons)."

Bole said that more community meetings will be scheduled.

"It was suggested that we have a meeting specifically for people who want to use community gatherings to heal, as this was very traumatizing for many," Bole said. "Plans are already underway for such a meeting as a result of someone hearing this feedback and offering to host."