Last month, a massive fire destroyed the SPS Technologies factory in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania.
The fire, which broke out at the 600,000-square-foot plant on Highland Avenue, burned for five days before being fully contained. More than 80 fire companies responded, working to prevent further damage. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
SPS Technologies, founded in 1903, has been in Jenkintown since 1920. The company manufactures high-strength metal fasteners for aerospace, military, and industrial applications. It was once a major employer, with up to 3,000 workers at its peak. That number dropped to 475 in recent years, but the company remained an important part of the local economy.
The fire caused major disruptions across Montgomery County. Schools closed, SEPTA trains were delayed, and Abington Township officials issued a shelter-in-place order due to concerns about hazardous chemicals. Residents in nearby areas, including Jenkintown and Glenside, were advised to stay indoors or leave the area voluntarily. The township also declared a disaster emergency.
Beyond the economic damage, the fire affected local recreation. Behind the factory’s parking lot is Abington’s Hallowell Park, a public park with soccer fields and a baseball diamond.
For decades, Hallowell Park hosted one of the top fast-pitch softball leagues in the Philadelphia suburbs, with large crowds gathering for playoffs. Many SPS Technologies employees participated in the league. The future of this local custom is now unknown, as the factory’s presence helped support community events.
The next major question is whether SPS Technologies will rebuild in Jenkintown. The company has not made any public statements about its plans. If it leaves, the loss will be more than financial—it will change the identity of the area, which has relied on the company for generations.
Meanwhile, legal action against SPS Technologies is moving forward. Four law firms have filed lawsuits on behalf of affected individuals and businesses. The cases involve a school bus driver for the Abington School District, co-owners of a local auto service shop, and a Jenkintown resident who experienced respiratory issues from smoke exposure.
Attorneys from three law firms—Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky and Levin Sedran & Berman (Philadelphia), Stranch, Jennings and Garvey (Tennessee), and Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman (New York)—have requested that a judge consolidate their lawsuits into a single class-action case.
The attorneys argue that the lawsuits involve the same event, the same legal questions, and many of the same witnesses. Consolidating the cases would lessen costs and prevent conflicting verdicts.
The complaints claim SPS Technologies failed to properly inspect, maintain, and operate its facility, leading to widespread harm. The lawsuits allege that “hundreds if not thousands” of people were affected by the fire and its aftermath. A dedicated webpage on Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky’s website provides information for those who may qualify to join the case.
The firm has previously represented victims in high-profile cases, including the 2013 Salvation Army Building collapse and the 2023 Port Richmond explosion. If the court allows the case to proceed as a class action, affected individuals will receive formal notices about their legal rights.
SPS Technologies is owned by Precision Castparts, a unit of Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett’s multinational conglomerate. So far, the company has not responded to requests for comment on the fire, the lawsuits, or its plans for the Jenkintown facility.
