Monday March, 31 2025 @ 13:01

Nature: Washdown (Fuel Spill)

Location: Wawa (80)

Address:  24930 John J Williams Hwy Millsboro, DE 19966

On Monday afternoon, March 31^st, the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company was alerted for a washdown (fuel spill) incident at the Wawa on John J. Williams Highway.  It was reported that truck was leaking diesel within the rear parking lot near the trash dumpsters at Wawa. 

Emergency response units from Indian River included Tanker 80 from the Oak Orchard facility and Engine #80-1 and Brush 80-0 from the Long Neck facility as well as the Delaware State Fire Police. Additional hazardous materials services were requested from the Millsboro Volunteer Fire Company’s Hazardous Materials Response Unit and the DNREC Environmental Control Enforcement Unit.

Emergency response crew assignments included incident isolation measures, traffic control, incident application of fluid containment measures pending arrival of the hazardous materials unit, notification of DNREC Enforcement Officials, and incident mitigation efforts.  Upon arrival of the hazardous materials unit, significant fluid absorbent measures were deployed, eradication of all contents from the truck’s diesel fuel saddle tanks and other preventative absorbent measures which included:

1) Spread absorbents on all affected areas.

2) Pursue measures to prevent fluids from entering any storm water management drainage culverts, pipes, etc.

3) Sweep up or pick up the absorbed materials.

It appears that commercial truck was patronizing the Wawa Store and realized that his truck was leaking diesel fuel when he immediately notified the Sussex County Emergency Operations Center for assistance.  The access to the rear portion of the Wawa Store parking lot was prohibited for the duration of the incident as the initial emergency response units stabilized and mitigated the hazardous materials pending arrival of a commercial clean up entity for extensive corrective measures.

The Delaware State Fire Police assisted with traffic control and blocking access to the impacted area for the duration of the incident.

The DNREC Environmental Control Officials are investigating.