The four-alarm fire that tore through the SPS Technologies factory in Abington in February did not impact drinking water or air quality, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection officials, writes Beatrice Forman for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
DEP held a virtual community meeting Tuesday, three months after a fire ravaged the 105-year-old facility on Highland Avenue.
The fire, which caused fiery tar and charred black debris to fall on nearby lawns, raised concerns about the kinds of harsh chemicals used at the factory. Fortunately, the tanks storing those chemicals were not affected by the flames.
“It was an incident that could’ve been so much worse than it turned out being,” said Patrick Patterson, the department’s southeastern regional director. “This had the potential to be a serious chemical fire and turned out to only be a building fire because of the way the chemicals were segregated.”
Demolition of the site began Monday and is expected to conclude by September 15. During this time, the Department of Environmental Protection and SPS will continue monitoring air quality, soil, and drinking water.
Read more about the lasting effects of the SPS Technologies fire in Abington in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
