(DailyEmailNews.com) – An alarming shelter-in-place order surprised unsuspecting residents following a massive industrial fire that broke out at SPS Technologies in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
Watch the video down below.
The incident has forced school closures and disrupted public transportation, highlighting the far-reaching consequences of industrial accidents in American communities.
The fire broke out on the 300 block of Highland Avenue in Abington Township. Heavy smoke and flames could be seen from the warehouse roof.
SPS Technologies is a 560,000-square-foot facility founded in 1903 that produces metal components and fasteners for the aerospace industry.
While all employees have been accounted for and no injuries have been reported, the incident has caused significant disruption to the local area.
Schools in the Abington and Jenkintown districts are closed due to air quality concerns, and businesses within a 1-mile radius have been shuttered.
The Abington Township Police Department has issued a shelter-in-place order for the surrounding area, emphasizing the potential dangers posed by the smoke and particulates from the fire. Hazmat crews are actively monitoring air quality to ensure public safety.
“Smoke and particulates from this fire is filtering across the area. For this reason, a shelter in place order has been initiated and is currently in effect until this incident is under control,” police said.
The fire has also disrupted public transportation, with the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) suspending the Lansdale/Doylestown, West Trenton, and Warminster Regional Rail lines.
This disruption could lead to “cascading delays on other parts of the system,” according to a SEPTA spokesperson.
Adding to the controversy, the company has a history of environmental violations.
In 2023, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fined SPS Technologies nearly $110,000 for violations related to hazardous waste storage and marking at the site.
“Please keep all of our brave first responders as well as any employees that were in the building in your thoughts and prayers and please avoid the area!” said Abington Township Ward 6 commissioner Jeffrey Browne.
As the Abington Township Police Detective Division and the Township Fire Marshal’s office investigate the incident, many are left wondering about the cause of the fire.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers posed by industrial facilities in residential areas and the importance of robust safety measures.
As the community grapples with the aftermath of this industrial disaster, questions about corporate responsibility, safety, and oversight are sure to be at the forefront of discussions in the coming days and weeks.
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