Junkyard Fire Sends Heavy Smoke Into Camden

CAMDEN, NJ — Heavy smoke emanated from a Camden junkyard Monday when a pile of shredded materials caught fire.

The fire broke out just after 5:30 p.m. at EMR Camden — a scrap-metal recycling center. Crews controlled the blaze within an hour, containing it to the 1500 S 6th St. lot, said Jesse Flax, chief of the Camden Fire Department.

No injuries were reported, Flax told Patch.

The blaze originated from a pile of fluff — residue from shredded automobiles and large appliances. EMR employees assisted firefighters by moving materials to help them reach the fire, Flax said.

"There was a lot of smoke, which does impact the community," Flax said. "But a lot of it was in the air — it didn’t stay low to the ground."

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. But Flax says that the company and fire department occasionally deal with fluff fires.

"We’re going to be talking to the representatives of the company to find out any actions that should’ve been taken," Flax said. "But this is something you’ll get from time to time, based on the weather and the material."