Car wash set up to help with Fredericton chemical spill, but some say response is too slow

The New Brunswick government has set up a special car wash for people who drove through a chemical spill on the Vanier Highway in Fredericton between Wednesday evening and Friday at 4 p.m. AT, but some residents are questioning why it took so long for the province to take action.

Late Friday, the province announced that the spill contained chromium and people should avoid touching it, or washing vehicles coated in the yellow liquid.

People affected by the spill may have driven eastbound or westbound on the Vanier Highway (also known as Highway 7) between Fredericton and Oromocto or driven on Vanier Industrial Drive.

The car wash is set up off Alison Boulevard, near the ramp to the eastbound lane on Highway 7, and will be in place Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. AT. It was also open Saturday and set to close at 6 p.m., but there were long lines at 5:40 p.m. Workers are wearing special protective gear to reduce exposure.

For those who already washed their vehicles and have yellow residue in their driveway or garage, the province is advising people to contact EFI Global on their emergency spill line at 1-866-530-4086.

Jenna Martin drove through the spill Wednesday. When she parked her car later that night, she noticed it was stained yellow. But it wasn’t until the government issued a news release on Friday that she found out why.

"There wasn't enough information, nor was it provided in a timely manner," she said.

Public Health advised residents to avoid touching residue on their vehicles and to keep children and pets away from it as well. Authorities said people should wash their hands for 15 minutes if they have touched the vehicle or other affected surfaces.

But it was too late for Martin.

"Thinking back, I touched it, I’ve cleaned it. Now what am I supposed to do," she said.

Martin said she is worried her dog and children may have been exposed to the residue.

"Is it satisfactory going to a car wash to get that cleaned? Or is that going to be damaging to our waterways, the sewer system, the environment, is it dangerous to my pets and children?" she said.

Martin said the residue has also dripped onto the road and remains on her car even after going through a car wash.

Martina Price said she would have avoided the highway if the situation had been publicized sooner.