Air quality safe after large fire at scrapyard just outside of Philadelphia prompts tests
Two firefighters hospitalized after Darby Township scrapyard fire
A massive fire at the EMR Metal Recycling plant in Darby Township sent thick black smoke across Southwest Philadelphia on Wednesday, July 15, according to officials. Two firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion and a shelter in place was lifted after the fire was brought under control.
DARBY, Pa. - Officials monitored air quality for potential contaminants after a fire broke out Wednesday at a scrapyard near Philadelphia. Two firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion and a shelter in place was lifted after the fire was brought under control.
What we know:
Crews responded to a scrapyard on Industrial Drive in the Darby Borough of Delaware County.
Firefighters used ladder trucks to battle thick black smoke and heavy flames overwhelming the facility.
The Philadelphia Department of Health is taking samples to assess the air quality and potential for any threat.
"At this time, no specific hazardous substances have been identified, and the Department is taking this action out of an abundance of caution," officials said.
The fire was placed under control around 1 p.m., FOX 29's Chris O'Connell reports.
Company response and ongoing investigation
What they're saying:
The plant is owned by the same company that was under scrutiny after another large fire in May at a similar recycling plant in Camden, where a discarded lithium battery was the cause. EMR says the fire is believed to have started on top of a pile of inbound metal materials exposed to the extreme heat.
EMR’s first priority is the safety of our workforce and the public neighboring our facilities, and we thank the firefighters of Delaware County for their support at the EMR Atlas Traders scrap metal feeder yard in Sharon Hill (Darby Township). EMR has been working cooperatively with local first responders to address a fire that ignited at the EMR Atlas site at approximately 9:45 a.m. this morning, Wednesday, July 15, 2026. The fire was contained on-site, extinguished at approximately 12:00 noon, and hot spot treatment is ongoing. No injuries have been reported," said EMR Marketing Manager Jack Arksey.
The company says it will review the incident to determine whether materials prohibited at EMR facilities, such as lithium-ion batteries, were contained in affected inbound loads and will take appropriate actions to promote the safety of the recycled material stream.
Residents in the Eastwick neighborhood of Southwest Philadelphia said they were not surprised by another junkyard fire.
"It’s a junkyard fire again.." said Estell Colwell. "It’s no concern about the people in the neighborhood it’s all about the almighty dollar they want to get anybody or anything they can get," said Colwell.
The fire chief of the Darby Township Fire Department was among those treated for heat exhaustion.
The EMR Atlas site serves as a gathering point for recyclable materials collected by independent peddlers, which are inspected and sorted by metal type for later processing off-site.
All-clear
In an update Wednesday evening, the City of Philadelphia declared the air "safe to breath again."
"Earlier today, the large smoke-producing fire that occurred in Darby Township, Delaware County, which blew heavy smoke into Southwest Philadelphia, was extinguished. Testing from the Department of Public Health’s mobile measurement services unit shows that the air quality has returned to acceptable levels and that the air is safe to breathe again. Residents can safely resume normal activities at this time. However, sometimes air quality incidents can have health effects even after the air quality returns to normal, so if you experience symptoms including trouble breathing, heart palpitations, nausea, or dizziness, seek immediate medical attention."
What we don't know:
The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation. It is not yet confirmed whether prohibited materials such as lithium-ion batteries were present in the affected loads.
What you can do:
Air quality in the Philadelphia area was already expected to be poor from Canadian wildfire smoke.
Residents in the area should check their local Breathe Philly air quality monitor for near-real-time air quality measurements for information on appropriate precautions to avoid unnecessary exposure to smoke.