FOX29 published a story chronicling the 365-day journey of SPS Technologies in Jenkintown (Abington Township) following the massive fire at their facility on February 17, 2025.
The site is currently under construction for a new aerospace facility. Dubbed “Jenk 2.0”, the new facility’s footprint will be 30 percent smaller—and one story shorter—than the original building, which stood for over a century. According to those plans, the front facade will be further from the roadway and include bricks from the original plant among other “nods to the past,” SPS Vice President Dan Geer said during the September 25 meeting in the Abington School District Middle School Little Theater.
The next day, the Abington Township Fire Marshal’s Office announced that the fire had been classified as “Accidental”, that the area of the compressed air system infrastructure was the area of origin, and that the fire’s cause had been deemed “Undetermined”.
Neighbors expressed “both hope for new jobs and concern about the fire’s long-term effects”, FOX29 wrote.
“We were all concerned about if they were going to leave or not, but they decided that they are going to stay and we’re happy about that,” said Andria Johnson, a neighbor.
“I wish they would’ve found somewhere nearby ,maybe not around so many homes, but they were here first, I want people to get back to work so,” said Kristy Davis, a neighbor.
FOX29’s video coverage is below:
The Abington Township Fire Department memorialized the incident’s one-year anniversary yesterday. From their post:
One year ago today, Abington Township Fire Department and our mutual aid partners were dispatched to a major incident at the SPS Technologies facility on Highland Avenue after reports of flames through the roof and multiple explosions. This incident quickly grew into a 4+ alarm event, bringing together fire and emergency units from across Montgomery, Bucks, Delaware, Chester, and Lehigh counties.
For nearly five days—114 continuous hours—firefighters, EMS personnel, and support crews worked in challenging and hazardous conditions to bring the situation under control. Thanks to their skill and unwavering commitment, the fire was fully extinguished on February 22, 2025. Throughout the response, all 60 employees inside the building evacuated safely, and no injuries occurred among responding personnel.
Today, we pause to reflect on that challenging week and to recognize the extraordinary efforts of every first responder who answered the call. Their dedication safeguarded the community and prevented an already serious situation from becoming far worse.
As we mark this anniversary, we honor their service and acknowledge the resilience of our community. May we continue moving forward—stronger, more connected, and committed to supporting one another in the year ahead.
The Weldon Fire Company posted:
Today marks the one-year anniversary of the SPS Technologies fire — an incident that will forever be remembered as one of the largest and most complex emergencies in the history of Weldon Fire Company and the Abington Township Fire Department.
The fire was massive in scale and required a sustained, coordinated response that lasted over 114 hours. Throughout the incident, crews faced significant operational challenges, including the presence of industrial chemicals that posed potential risks to both responders and the surrounding community. Through the coordinated efforts of the Abington Township Fire Department and our mutual aid partners, those risks were successfully mitigated. The aggressive, disciplined, and professional actions taken by firefighters helped prevent what could have been a far more devastating outcome.
Weldon Fire Company is sincerely grateful to the 68 fire companies and partner agencies that responded to assist during this incident. Their support, professionalism, and commitment exemplify the strength of the volunteer fire service and the mutual aid system we rely on every day.
We are also incredibly thankful for the overwhelming support from our community. Residents, local businesses, and organizations provided food, gift cards, flowers, and countless messages of encouragement to our members and the many assisting crews. Those gestures carried us through long operational periods and reminded us who we serve.
This incident was a defining moment not only for Weldon Fire Company, but for the entire Abington Township Fire Department. It reinforced the importance of preparation, training, teamwork, and the strength of our community.
We remain proud to serve this township and honored to stand alongside the members of the Abington Township Fire Department and our mutual aid partners.
Thank you to everyone who supported us then — and who continue to support us today.
You can read Glenside Local’s ongoing coverage of the fire and its aftermath here.
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Photos: ATPD, WFC