A large fire at one of the world’s largest battery storage plants in Moss Landing, California, prompted the evacuation of hundreds of residents and the closure of a section of Highway 1 early Friday.
The fire, which began Thursday afternoon, produced significant flames and black smoke, leading to evacuation orders for approximately 1,500 people in Moss Landing and the Elkhorn Slough area.
As of early Friday, the fire, while still burning, showed signs of containment and remained within the facility, according to Monterey County spokesperson Nicholas Pasculli. By late Thursday, a small number of evacuees were at a temporary shelter, while others sought refuge with friends, family, or made alternative arrangements, Pasculli stated.
The Moss Landing Power Plant, situated roughly 77 miles (124 kilometers) south of San Francisco, is owned by Vistra Energy of Texas and houses tens of thousands of lithium-ion batteries. These batteries, crucial for storing renewable energy, pose significant firefighting challenges when ignited.
Monterey County Supervisor Glenn Church described the situation as a “disaster,” though he expressed confidence the fire would be contained within the concrete building.
The county Board of Supervisors scheduled an emergency meeting Friday morning to discuss the fire.
Previous fires at the Vistra plant in 2021 and 2022 were attributed to a malfunctioning fire sprinkler system causing overheating in some battery units, according to The Mercury News.
The cause of the latest fire remains undetermined. Vistra stated that a safe evacuation of all personnel on-site was conducted upon fire detection, and a full investigation will follow extinguishment.
“Our top priority is the safety of the community and our personnel, and Vistra deeply appreciates the continued assistance of our local emergency responders,” said Jenny Lyon, a Vistra spokesperson.
The North Monterey County Unified School District announced the closure of all schools and offices for Friday due to the fire.