Residents living near a power plant in Central California were instructed to evacuate their homes on Thursday night following a fire incident at the Moss Landing Power Plant. The facility, which serves as a battery storage site, caught fire around 3 p.m., leading to evacuation orders being issued at 6:30 p.m. due to concerns over hazardous materials and potential chemical releases.
The fire, not linked to the wildfires in the Los Angeles area, is currently being battled by fire crews. More than 2,000 individuals were evacuated as a precautionary measure. The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office deployed drones to assess the situation and monitor air quality, while emergency services were fully mobilized to address the incident.
According to reports, the fire is active with no suppression efforts underway, and firefighters are opting to let it burn. Drone footage revealed that approximately 40% of the building housing lithium-ion batteries on the property has been consumed by flames.
Vistra Energy, the Texas-based owner of the Moss Landing Power Plant, confirmed that all site personnel were safely evacuated after a fire was detected in the energy storage facility. The cause of the fire remains unknown, and an investigation will commence once the fire is extinguished.
The Moss Landing Power Plant, located about 77 miles south of San Francisco, houses tens of thousands of lithium batteries that play a crucial role in storing electricity generated from renewable sources. However, lithium-ion batteries contain volatile electrolytes, posing risks of chemical exposure during firefighting operations.
As a safety precaution, all North Monterey County Unified School District schools and offices will remain closed on Friday. Santa Cruz County Public Health officials advised residents to stay indoors, close windows and doors, and limit outdoor exposure due to the ongoing fire at the battery plant.
The Castroville Rec Center has been designated as a temporary evacuation point to assist evacuees. The National Weather Service Bay Area shared satellite images of the fire, and officials have not yet determined when the evacuation order will be lifted.
The Moss Landing area is adjacent to major ecosystems, including the Moss Landing Wildlife Area, Elkhorn Slough State Marine Reserve, and Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve.
