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Florida authorities have issued a warning about a “potentially widespread fuel contamination” that may have led to some people obtaining fuel from Florida gas stations that could harm or disable their engines, just as Tropical Storm Idalia may force people to take to the roads or look for gas to run their generators.
In a warning published on Sunday afternoon, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services stated that Citgo’s supply of gas coming from Port Tampa Bay had become contaminated due to “human error.”
If fuel was purchased after 10 a.m. on Saturday, it may have been tainted and given to people from more than two dozen filling stations along Florida’s Gulf Coast, including a few in the nearby Tampa region.
The contaminated fuel was reportedly sent to Citgo-supplied gas stations as far north as Brooksville and as far south as Fort Myers, according to the agency.
The alert initially said that Citgo “will not release the list of gas stations that received contaminated fuel” but that state officials knew that fuel from the port “serves gas stations in the greater Tampa region north to Chiefland, and on the west side of Florida south to Naples.”
“Citgo sells gas to BJs, 7-Eleven, and also some unbranded stations,” department officials said in the alert, noting that they “will send a more accurate list as it becomes available.”
The stations that were thought to have received the tainted fuel were eventually made public by the state. (A list of the stations is provided at the end of this article.)
The declaration came shortly after Tropical Storm Idalia developed. The west coast of Florida, where the contaminated fuel was supplied, is in danger as the storm, which is anticipated to intensify into a hurricane later this week, approaches.
The subject came up during a press conference Gov. Ron DeSantis gave on hurricane preparation on Sunday afternoon.
“It has nothing to do with the storm, but it’s happening right on the eve of the storm,” he said.
DeSantis agreed that the fuel situation might make things more difficult.
”You’re going to have people potentially just stuck on the side of the road, I mean, if you fill up your tank with diesel and then you start driving it, it’s not going to end well,” he said.
According to the advisory from the agency, gas that has been tainted with diesel fuel “has the potential to damage engines or affect operability.”
“Impacted stations have been asked to stop selling gas until the contaminated fuel is replaced and tanks are cleaned. Once the stations are cleared or have completed a corrective action plan fuel will once again be safe for purchase,” the alert states.
Citgo is a “privately-held terminal,” according to a Port Tampa Bay representative, which implies that while being located inside the port’s boundaries, the port does not have control over Citgo’s facilities. According to spokesperson Lisa Wolf-Chason, any information regarding the “human error” that resulted in fuel contamination would have to come straight from the company.
”They employ their own people, they have their own operators, and they own the land they operate off of,” Wolf-Chason said in a phone interview. “I know this is unfortunate news for Citgo, but we have been working with other fuel operators to make sure they’re prepared for the storm and can help supply the state with fuel.”
State officials set up a hotline for consumers to call with complaints if they think they purchased faulty fuel. People can file complaints by calling 1-800-435-7352 or online at fdacs.gov.
The Florida Department of Emergency Management has also “waived size, weight, and hour restrictions to get resources into the state as quickly and efficiently as possible,” according to the advisory.
The following gas stations are thought to have received the tainted fuel:
Big Dan’s Car Wash is located at 39522 US 19 N in Tarpon Springs. (A spokesman for this facility texted the Times on Sunday night and said none of their fuel had contamination and that they expected to be cleared by the state by end of day Monday).
7-Eleven: 3437 US Highway 19, Holiday
7-Eleven: 13411 Fish Hawk Blvd., Lithia
7-Eleven: 4325 Lee Blvd., Lehigh Acres
7-Eleven: 12750 South Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers
7-Eleven: 290 Lakeland Park Road, Lakeland
7-Eleven: 720 Chiquita Blvd., North Cape Coral
7-Eleven: 2604 Skyline Blvd., Cape Coral
7-Eleven: 940 S Broad St., Brooksville
7-Eleven: 1626 Meadow Road, Lehigh Acres
7-Eleven: 2401 James Redman Parkway, Plant City
7-Eleven: 601 Pine Island Road SW, Cape Coral
7-Eleven: 6050 Dean Dairy Road, Zephyrhills
7-Eleven: 714 Burnt Store Road, Cape Coral
BJ’s Wholesale: 1929 Pine Island Road NE, Cape Coral
BJ’s Wholesale: 9372 Ben C Pratt Six Mile Cypress Pkwy., Fort Myers
BJ’s Wholesale: 13585 NE 86th Path, Lady Lakes
Handy Foods Store #86: 21321 Palm Beach Blvd., Alva
Handy Foods Store #87: 3205 Lee Blvd., Lehigh Acres
Superday CITGO: 1595 S McCall Road, Port Charlotte
Bolton One LLC: 15434 US Highway 19, Hudson
JHW #310 DBA Avenue CITGO: 11867 N Williams St., Dunellon
AL Prime Daytona Beach: 1898 S Clyde Morris Blvd., Daytona Beach
Quick & Easy Stop: 4529 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota
Palmers Easy Stop: 903 Cattleman Road, Sarasota
Faulkenburg CITGO: 5320 Faulkenburg Road, Tampa
Choice Food & Gas: 310 N Central Ave., Umatilla
2K Express 5: 6202 N 40th St., Tampa
Perfection Station 5: 9931 N Florida Ave., Tampa
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Melissa’s career in writing started more than 20 years ago. Today, she lives in South Florida with her husband and two boys.
