After Burgers by Wildwich food truck destroyed in fire Thursday, owner talks rebuilding

Burgers by Wildwich owner Mike Stanley woke up early Thursday to his food truck on fire in his driveway.

He and his son fled the house as Belvedere Fire Company arrived to put the blaze out shortly before 3:30 a.m. And while no one was injured, the Burgers by Wildwich truck – a fan favorite often booked for events in Delaware and Pennsylvania – was damaged beyond repair.

Stanley said he was told by the Fire Marshal's Office that the blaze appeared to have started in the back left container of the truck, where lithium-ion batteries are kept. The batteries are charged by solar power to fuel the truck, and Stanley said they could have sparked while charging.

Ultimately, the cause of the fire is still under investigation. The Fire Marshal's Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

What comes next for Burgers by Wildwich?

Thursday's fire was far from the first food truck-related difficulty Stanley has faced since starting his business 10 years ago. The Wildwich truck was stolen from a downtown Wilmington parking lot in 2018, and Stanley said another iteration of the truck was smashed by a drunk driver.

Still, Stanley said he "can never not rebuild."

His food truck is popular, and he likes the mobility that a truck or, potentially, a trailer – Stanley is still on the fence – provides him.

"Every place has its own unique feel," Stanley said.

Once the insurance money for the truck comes through, Stanley said Burgers by Wildwich will begin work on a new vehicle "with (their) process in mind." In the past, Stanley has had to find ways to work around existing trucks, which has led to his company working awkwardly, "or even backwards," to adapt their menu to the infrastructure.

Stanley and his crew plan to work on the new truck through the fall and winter so that it is ready for the start of the food truck season in the spring.

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In the meantime, Stanley is doubling down on efforts to open a physical Burgers by Wildwich restaurant in Claymont. If all goes well, Stanley said he hopes to have the restaurant open the first week of September, especially now that he and his employees no longer have any income from the food truck.

"No matter what happens, you never let it hold you down," Stanley said. "You just push through, and you get to the next level, and you keep on achieving. Otherwise, what's the point of dreaming?"

Send story tips or ideas to Hannah Edelman at hedelman@delawareonline.com. For more reporting, follow them on X at @h_edelman.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: After Burgers by Wildwich food truck destroyed in fire Thursday, owner talks rebuilding