Environmental impacts of a scrapyard loom in Camden, N.J.

The city suspended EMR’s junkyard license for the facility where the latest fire occurred, and will reevaluate the suspension next month.

The May fire was the latest of over a dozen at facilities run by EMR in Camden since 2020. The suspension will be reevaluated in early July.

The order comes after city, county and state elected officials called on government agencies to shut EMR’s Camden operations.

A spokesperson for Camden’s mayor said the city is “undertaking all necessary legal research to move forward” with revoking EMR’s city licensure.

The statement comes days after a fire at one of EMR’s scrap metal facilities — one of more than a dozen over the past five years.

The company’s statement came after city and county officials called on EMR to “fully cease” operating due to the latest fire.

The mobile air monitoring project aims to identify hot spots of pollution in four overburdened communities in New Jersey, including Camden.

The bill would require scrap metal facilities to install heat detection equipment that could identify fires early, as well as develop fire safety plans.

The bills would require facilities like the EMR scrapyard in Camden to take fire safety precautions and come under new state regulation.

Attorney General Matt Platkin filed the suit nearly a year after a major blaze at the Camden scrapyard.

The memo of understanding announced last spring followed a massive fire at EMR’s Ferry Avenue facility earlier this year.

Residents want EMR to be held accountable and said they are upset about the city striking a deal without input from the community.

The operator of the South Camden metal recycling complex agreed to change operations and reduce footprint, but residents are skeptical.

EMR says lithium-ion batteries at their scrapyard caused a four-alarm blaze. Residents are skeptical it will hold the yard operator accountable.

“There have been way too many fires at EMR,” one neighbor said. “Nothing’s been done.”