A Change.org petition titled “PREVENT Rebuilding of SPS Technologies in Abington, PA” has been making its way through social media groups in greater Glenside.
According to the petition’s author, who claims to live less than half a mile from the Jenkintown facility, the incident may not be the last of its kind.
“I saw the flames and black smoke from the recent four alarm fire in Abington. That scene fuels my fear that this may recur, especially considering the possibility of reduced regulations under a new presidency,” the petition says.
It continues:
The fire at SPS Technologies was a clear testimony to the risk it poses, and such risk is unacceptable in any residential area. Here are some reasons why:
- SPS has been fined for improperly storing hazardous waste and fined over $100,000
- SPS’ sprinkler systems were not working at the time of the explosion/fire
- This is not the first fire that SPS has had, the others have just been smaller.
- SPS was created in the early 1900s before the area was so highly residential. It would never be built from scratch today.
- SPS houses toxic chemicals, which if mixed such as in a fire, could create arsenic which can be deadly. We are lucky that didn’t happen this time but why should we believe this wouldn’t happen again?
The petition, which has 262 signees at the time of this writing, includes a link to glensidefreshstart.com, taglined “Our community united for a better future, reimagining the SPS property”. The site’s “Our Health and Safety” link includes a section titled “How SPS endangered us” with information about factors which led to the incident and the disaster’s aftermath.
The site also includes survey results, news and updates, among other items.
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