Fire in Camden, New Jersey, may send smoke into Philadelphia, officials say
Crews are on the scene of a large fire at a scrap metal recycling facility in Camden, New Jersey, on Friday morning, and emergency management officials are warning it may send smoke across the river into Philadelphia.
Smoke billowed from the EMR Recycling property along Ferry Avenue in Camden as crews sprayed water and EMR's construction vehicle worked to move debris.
The fire was brought under control around 6 a.m., according to Camden officials. Smoke was continuing to rise at the scene.
Philadelphia emergency management officials say smoke may come into the city
The Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management said smoke from the fire may be present in the city and it may be visible from areas like Old City.
The Philadelphia public health department recommended that residents avoid going outdoors as much as possible, close windows and doors and recirculate indoor air with fans to avoid bringing air pollution into their homes.
Fire departments around South Jersey say residents may notice a burning plastic-like smell depending on wind conditions.
The City of Camden encouraged residents to stay indoors to avoid smoke and pollution. If your home has an HVAC or air conditioner that draws outside air, you should switch it off until the particulate matter has dissipated.
EMR in Camden was the site of a massive fire last year
Earlier in May, EMR debuted a new fire suppression system.
A four-alarm fire at EMR in February 2025 took about six hours to get under control and also sent smoke into Philly. The company said last year's fire was likely caused by a lithium-ion battery that was "wrongly delivered" to the facility and concealed within scrap metal.
