Camden officials demand shutdown of recycling facility after repeated fires
N.J. has sued over at least a dozen fires at the same metal recycling plant
CAMDEN, N.J. (WPVI) -- A fire at a recycling plant in Camden, New Jersey, is now under control after crews battled the flames early Friday morning. The facility is at the center of an environmental lawsuit over previous fires.
The latest fire broke out at EMR Recycling on Atlantic Ave. and S Front St. around 3 a.m.
The blaze grew to two alarms before crews were able to get the fire contained, according to officials. Firefighters are now monitoring hot spots.
"This is not going like the fires have gone here before," said Camden Fire Chief Jesse Flax.
The company recently installed a new fire suppression system, but Flax said one unit malfunctioned during Friday's incident.
"The other ones kicked on. And they actually suppressed anything that was in that general area. And we were able to immediately focus on the one that did not kick on right away," he said.
EMR believes the fire may have been caused by a lithium-ion battery and has described improper disposal of such batteries as a broader crisis. City officials, however, said residents are less concerned with technical explanations and more focused on the recurring danger.
"They don't want to have the lithium conversation," Mayor Vic Carstarphen said. "They just want to know why is this happening. Why is this continue to happen? And that's just the basics."
"Even though we still have to deal with smoke, have to deal with the plume - it's doing its job it need to do," Flax said. "There was a problem in the beginning with the system, but once the system got kicked - put in place - we were able to contain it and keep it down to just our city units getting in place and putting the fire out."
"I never said it was going to put the fire all the way out. I never said it was going to stop fires. But I did say it was going to keep it contained," he added.
Camden city and county leaders are calling on regulators to shut down an EMR recycling facility.
In a statement, EMR said it is pausing operations of its Camden shredder while it investigates the cause of the fire and works with authorities.
"EMR is electing to pause operation of the Camden shredder to complete its investigation and address all relevant findings and completely cooperate and coordinate with the mayor's office and all relevant authorities," the company said.
Local leaders argued the move does not go far enough and are urging state action.
"It is not acceptable for our residents to have to be imposed upon with those kind of conditions," said Camden County Commissioner Jeff Nash.
Mayor Carstarphen echoed those concerns, emphasizing frustration after repeated efforts to work with the company.
"The city has worked with EMR to improve facilities, but today, this morning, having another two-alarm fire that occurred is truly unacceptable," he said.
Officials said they are also monitoring the atmosphere and taking assessments to make sure the air quality is safe.
There was a particular concern for the Waterfrond South neighborhood, according to officials.
The City of Philadelphia also put out an alert, advising about smoke that may be present in the city and visible over Old City.
Residents were encouraged to avoid airborne particulates/smoke, which remain in the air.
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No injuries have been reported.
The plant has a history of fires. The state and the Department of Environmental Protection have sued over at least a dozen fires at the same metal recycling plant over the years.
The lawsuit calls the recurring fires an ongoing public nuisance that has severely harmed the health and well-being of Camden residents.
The most extensive fire, according to the lawsuit, occurred in February 2025 at EMR's South Front Street plant. The four-alarm inferno burned for 12 hours before being fully extinguished, sent smoke and pollution 15 miles away, and forced the evacuation of 100 residents in the immediate area.
State officials said residents reported nausea, headaches, breathing issues, and eye and throat irritation as a result.
Officials initially suspected a lithium-ion battery caused the February fire, but the official report listed the cause as undetermined.
Another major fire in January 2021 hospitalized residents and firefighters, and temporarily closed a nearby school.
The lawsuit seeks a court order requiring EMR to fix fire hazards immediately and implement measures to control fire risks.
Action News reached out in January for comment. EMR US CEO Joseph Balzano said the company was already taking action, adding that the company had "entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to provide a comprehensive framework for fire suppression at our Camden shredder at a cost of $6.7 million."
A spokesperson for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection said the latest incident underscores the need for stricter oversight and accountability. The agency said it currently lacks legislative authority to directly regulate scrap metal facilities but is pursuing relief through the courts.
EMR's decision to pause shredding operations is "a necessary step in light of the hazards the facility poses," the spokesperson said, adding that the agency will continue working to stop what it described as dangerous fires.
The official cause of Friday's fire remains under investigation, according to the fire department.
Company officials declined to provide an on-camera interview but said the CEO plans to reach out to the DEP and EPA and has pledged an independent fire safety review.
Local leaders, meanwhile, say they will continue pushing for a full shutdown until stronger protections are in place for the surrounding community.
