Fuel Spill at Wildwood Wawa Shuts Down Streets
UPDATE: One Lane Has Opened Moving East, But the Wawa is Still Closed
If you were trying to get into Wildwood via Rio Grande Avenue on Sunday, chances are you ran into major delays.
A significant fuel spill at the Wawa located at 418 West Rio Grande Avenue brought traffic to a halt and triggered a large emergency response.
Fuel Spill at Wildwood Wawa July 20th
According to the Wildwood Fire Department, the incident occurred during a routine fuel delivery when approximately 800 gallons of gasoline spilled from a tanker truck onto the property.
This isn’t just any Wawa. It’s the iconic Doo Wop themed location that many visitors pass as they enter the island, making the disruption even more noticeable. (yes people look forward to stopping at this Wawa because it is their coolest location in their collection)
The underground tanks at this Wawa are located on the eastern side of the property. However, officials have not yet determined what exactly went wrong to cause such a large spill.
One of the biggest concerns following the incident was the nearby storm drain system. The drains surrounding the Wawa flow directly into the back bay, raising fears that fuel may have entered the water.
As a precaution, emergency crews quickly blocked off all nearby storm drains. At this point, it is still unclear if any fuel actually reached the drainage system.
Also See: Wildwood Boardwalk Connector Project Finally Coming!
In response to the spill, Wawa has temporarily closed its doors. There is currently no timeline for when the store will reopen.
Cleanup efforts began almost immediately. In addition to local firefighters, environmental crews from Cape May County and the U.S. Coast Guard were called in to assist.
Specialized teams are now working to safely remove the gasoline and ensure that the site is fully decontaminated.
As of late Sunday night, the streets surrounding the Wawa remained closed. Drivers heading into Wildwood are being asked to use alternate routes, such as North Wildwood Boulevard or Ocean Drive through Diamond Beach in Lower Township.
This Wawa sits at one of the most heavily trafficked entrances to the Wildwoods, especially during the peak of summer.
The closure has caused significant delays and disruptions to both residents and vacationers.
Fuel Spill at Wildwood Wawa July 20th
No injuries have been reported. It is not yet known if the fuel truck driver or Wawa staff will face any citations. Officials are continuing to investigate the exact cause of the incident.
This is a developing story. More updates will be provided as new information becomes available.
Drone Photos are provided by Dan Robinson at Dansdroneshots609