In the heart of Camden, New Jersey, a massive fire at the EMR metal recycling facility has left the city and surrounding areas reeling—and for good reason.
What began as a small blaze on a Friday evening quickly spiraled into a full-blown four-alarm fire, burning through the night and sending plumes of thick smoke visible from as far as 15 miles away.
While the fire itself has been controlled, the aftermath is far from over, and the incident has raised serious questions about safety and handling hazardous materials in the area.
The fire started around 5 p.m. on Friday, quickly spreading after a lithium-ion battery, which had been “undetectably concealed within scrap metal,” ignited.
EMR, the company behind the facility, made it clear that it doesn’t recycle lithium-ion batteries and has strict policies to prevent them from being delivered to its site.
But despite their best efforts, this battery somehow slipped through, causing one of the most destructive fires the city has seen in years.
By the time it was under control, the fire had damaged the facility significantly, requiring considerable time and money for repairs.
As the fire raged on, local officials and residents were left to contend with the sheer scale of the disaster.
Camden County officials, who had deployed fire departments across the region, expressed frustration.
For hours, the smoke engulfed the city, creating an almost surreal scene in which residents couldn’t escape the haze of their own neighborhood.
The smoke was so intense that officials issued a voluntary shelter-in-place order for nearby neighborhoods, including Waterfront South and Bergen Square. Residents were urged to stay indoors as a precaution.
While no injuries were reported, the psychological and environmental impact on the community has been notable.
The sheer scale of the fire and the fear it generated has brought about a renewed sense of urgency for action.
The cause of the fire, a lithium-ion battery, also brought the issue of recycling and waste management to the forefront.
These batteries, found in everything from smartphones to electric vehicles, have become notorious for sparking fires in recycling facilities nationwide.
EMR pointed out that this isn’t an isolated problem, citing the recycling industry’s years-long call for better regulation of these batteries.
“This lithium-ion battery fueled fire and the hundreds of others proliferating recently at metal recycling facilities across the country should be viewed as an immediate call to action for federal and state lawmakers,” the company stated.
Local residents, some of whom had to evacuate their homes temporarily, were understandably frustrated.
Environmental advocates have been sounding the alarm about the company’s repeated safety failures, and this fire has only amplified those concerns.
“EMR is a vast, 100-acre wasteland, and it’s a difficult neighbor to contend with,” said Jon Compton, executive director of the Center for Environmental Transformation, who has documented multiple fires at the facility over the years.
Camden Mayor Victor Carstarphen also weighed in, thanking the first responders who worked tirelessly to bring the fire under control and ensure the safety of the community.
However, he also expressed concern over the recurring issues with EMR.
“It’s a terrible fire, and it happened right next to neighborhoods where families live,” he said.
Beyond the immediate aftermath, the fire has prompted serious calls for reform.
The county is already in talks with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ensure the safety of the community is prioritized in future operations at EMR.
Given the recurring nature of the fires at this facility, local officials and environmental groups are pushing for stricter oversight and regulations to prevent another disaster.
As the fire smoldered into the early hours of Saturday morning, the DEP and EPA conducted air quality tests.
Fortunately, by noon, it was determined that air quality had returned to normal, and the shelter-in-place order was lifted.
Nonetheless, the lasting effects on the community remain, and many are still waiting to see what concrete steps will be taken to address the underlying issues.
The fire also raised questions about the role of companies like EMR in managing the waste stream, including these dangerous batteries.
With lithium-ion batteries becoming common in consumer electronics, the risks of improper disposal and the lack of a clear plan for managing them are becoming more apparent with each fire.
The need for more robust regulations, better handling practices, and clearer communication between companies and local governments has never been more urgent.
EMR, which processes up to 440 tons of metal an hour, is no stranger to controversy.
The company has received millions of dollars in tax incentives from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to expand its operations. Still, the facility’s location near residential neighborhoods has always been a point of contention.
With the latest fire, many residents question whether the company is doing enough to prevent these incidents.
The South Jersey Port Corporation, which owns the land where EMR operates, has also weighed in.
While the fire didn’t occur on their property, they expressed sympathy for the community and pledged to work with state and federal agencies to ensure a thorough investigation.
They clarified, however, that they do not have the authority to regulate EMR’s operations or shut down its facilities.
For now, the residents of Camden are left to grapple with the aftermath of a fire that destroyed part of their city and exposed deep vulnerabilities in how hazardous materials are handled.
While the fire in Camden, NJ, may have been extinguished, the call for action has just begun.
Local officials, residents, and environmental advocates are demanding change, hoping this devastating incident will be the last of its kind.
