Overview
- A Superior Court judge issued a temporary injunction on July 8 that lifted Camden’s emergency shutdown but said EMR may only resume operations after proving its new fire suppression system is fully operational and meeting other safety requirements.
- Camden City Council unanimously voted on July 7 to reject a proposed settlement that would have allowed a phased reopening after widespread public comment and resident complaints about repeated fires and smoke.
- EMR sued the city after officials suspended its junkyard license following a May 29 blaze, saying the shutdown cost the company about $10 million and forced more than 300 layoff notices while the company says it is prepared to comply with court-ordered safety steps.
- Governor Mikie Sherrill signed a new state law on July 8 that will take effect in one year and require heat-detection systems, publicly accessible fire-safety plans, remotely operable suppression systems and limits on pile heights at scrap facilities.
- The Camden sites have had more than a dozen fires since 2020 with residents reporting evacuations and health effects, inspectors will monitor compliance and the court will revisit the case on August 17 to decide whether EMR met the conditions.