CNBNews

CAMDEN CITY, NJ (April 17, 2025)--On Feb. 21, a vast four-alarm fire at the EMR facility, located at the 1400 block of South Front Street, sent black smoke billowing into Camden City and could be seen from more than 15 miles away. Now, EMR will be investing $6.7 million back into the waterfront south neighborhood and the surrounding community. Of EMR’s $6.7 million pledge, $4.5 million will be committed this calendar year and $450,000 will be paid annually over next five years. In addition, funds will also be allocated into improving and enhancing the fire suppression system at EMR facility and reimbursing the city's fire department from damages in battling the previous blaze. 

source Eastern Dutchess County Fire and Rescue

A vast four-alarm fire at the EMR facility, located at the 1400 block of South Front Street, sent black smoke billowing into Camden City and could be seen from more than 15 miles away.

Since the day of the fire, city leadership and their counterparts at all levels have been working to make the neighborhood whole from the blaze that dislodged more than 100 families from the surrounding community. This agreement was the product of that work and includes changes to the operation of the EMR facility by reducing its overall footprint throughout the city by nine acres, increasing inspections of material being brought on to the site, limiting the material to be stored on site and reducing the height of shredding piles. It also includes investment into the facility to be more neighborhood friendly with bio-diversity walls and investments into aesthetics. 

“The entire situation was simply unacceptable, but EMR is being held accountable,” said Camden Mayor Victor G. Carstarphen. “Everyone wants to ensure that fires like this never happen again. We should never have to relocate our residents ever again due a fire at EMR. This agreement helps to safeguard against that threat and outlines meaningful changes. This $4,500,000 financial commitment in CY’25 comes with an annual investment of $450,000 per year over five years. That includes funding for education, housing, family needs, and improvements to the surrounding neighborhood. I can assure our residents; EMR will be held to these commitments.”

Moving forward and most importantly, EMR will be working with stakeholders in the waterfront south neighborhood to invest money into an “essential needs” operation and work with the community to create a clinical space to provide residents with opportunity and access to front line medical care. Also, they will be developing a text notification system directly with residents and conducting an annual open house for community leaders. In addition, EMR will be investing money into neighborhood cleanups throughout waterfront south and other surrounding areas.   

“The fire our first responders and all of the support personnel had to fight on Feb. 21 will not be forgotten for its scope and magnitude,” said Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli Jr. “That said, I believe the mayor and his team have made some real progress in assisting residents and ensuring that a fire this size never happens at EMR again.”    

This public-private partnership will be navigated by a memorandum of understanding ratified over the next 30-45 days between Mayor Carstarphen, City Council and EMR. It will be enforced by a committee appointed by the mayor and $4.5 million needs to be invested back into the facility and the city by the end of the calendar year.

All fire suppression work being done at the EMR facility will also be certified by a fire safety engineer and reviewed by the Camden City Fire Marshall and De