Seabrook Brothers Facility Suffers Explosion, Fire and Roof Collapse in Upper Deerfield

A portion of the Seabrook Brothers & Sons processing facility at 85 Finley Road in Upper Deerfield Township suffered a roof collapse after 911 calls first reported an explosion and fire, county officials said. Cumberland County Administrator Kevin Smaniotto described the incident as a “structural collapse.” Authorities said the event occurred on Feb. 11 and that an investigation into the cause is underway.

The collapse happened shortly before 1:30 p.m., according to township and county briefings. Early emergency calls described an explosion; investigators later concluded there was no blast and that the building’s roof failed. Aerial footage from SkyForce10 and Chopper 6 showed extensive visible damage to the warehouse and multiple first responders on site, with crews searching the interior and perimeter.

County officials and the on-scene hazmat team reported a minor release of ammonia from refrigeration equipment used at the plant. Hazmat crews were “assessing and mitigating” the area as emergency personnel worked to secure the scene. Smaniotto said, “The levels of ammonia released are minimal. There is no hazard or threat to the community,” and repeated that public risk was low throughout the response.

Seabrook Brothers is a major regional processor; local reporting notes the company grows, processes, and freezes about 150 million pounds of vegetables annually and uses ammonia refrigeration in its operations. Approximately 150 employees were inside the building at the time of the collapse, county officials said, and all staff were accounted for after searches and triage.

Medical responders assisted two employees on site. One employee was assessed for minor injuries and refused transport or further treatment, while a second was taken to a medical center for evaluation and treated for a minor injury, according to Cumberland County briefings. An emergency responder was also transported for a possible heat-related illness after hours at the scene.

Local legal firm AnapolWeiss, which monitors industrial incidents in the region, confirmed hazmat teams were on scene mitigating ammonia exposure and said, “Currently, there are no threats to residents in the nearby area.” The firm also flagged broader workplace-safety questions that can arise from collapses at industrial facilities, urging scrutiny of maintenance and safety protocols as the county investigation progresses.

Upper Deerfield Township and county officials said they will provide updates as investigators from local and county agencies complete their on-site work and review structural and mechanical systems tied to the collapse. For now, Smaniotto emphasized that the priority was accounting for employees, stabilizing the site at 85 Finley Road, and ensuring that the limited ammonia release posed no danger to Bridgeton or surrounding Cumberland County neighborhoods.