A fire at a power plant in Central California has prompted the evacuation of over 2,000 residents due to concerns over hazardous materials. As firefighting crews work to contain the blaze, discover which areas have been evacuated as a precautionary measure.
Residents living near the Moss Landing Power Plant in Central California were ordered to leave their homes on Thursday night following a fire at the facility, officials confirmed.
The natural gas-powered plant, situated on the Monterey County coastline, doubles as a battery storage site and is operated by Vistra Energy. This Texas-based company finalized the latest construction phase of its energy storage project in 2023.
This facility is part of California’s broader efforts to enhance its power grid with clean energy initiatives. Reports indicate the site can store 750 megawatts of energy, sufficient to power approximately 562,000 homes for up to four hours.
Looking ahead, California projects a need for 52,000 megawatts of energy storage—three times the current capacity—by 2045 to meet increasing demand and achieve its net-zero emissions goals.
According to an email statement, the fire originated in one of the plant’s lithium-ion batteries around 3 p.m. on Thursday afternoon, triggering an immediate evacuation of on-site personnel.
“The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation, which will commence once the fire is fully extinguished,” stated Jenny Lyon, a Vistra spokesperson.
By 6:30 p.m., the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office issued evacuation orders for areas south of the Elkhorn Slough, north of Molera Road and Monterey Dunes Way, and west of Castroville Boulevard and Elkhorn Road.
Over 2,000 residents were impacted by these evacuations. Officials cited concerns about hazardous materials and possible chemical releases but did not disclose specifics regarding the substances involved.
For displaced residents, the Castroville Recreation Center was designated as a temporary evacuation shelter. The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office announced on its X page, “Full road closures at: 1. Dolan Rd. and Castroville Blvd. 2. Highway 1 at Salinas Road 3. Highway 1 at Merritt St.”
Firefighting teams continued to combat the flames, with emergency services—including sheriff’s deputies and medical personnel—mobilized for assistance. Drones were deployed to evaluate the fire’s extent and monitor air quality, stated Monterey County Spokesperson Nicholas Pasculli.
Initially, nearby Santa Cruz County public health officials advised residents to remain indoors, close windows and doors, turn off ventilation systems, and limit outdoor exposure due to air quality concerns.
The fire remains active, and suppression efforts are not underway at this time. Firefighters have determined that the safest course of action is to allow the fire to burn itself out, according to a sheriff’s office spokesperson.
Drone footage revealed that approximately 40% of the building housing the lithium-ion batteries had been destroyed by the fire, the spokesperson added.
Officials are closely monitoring potential environmental impacts. Highway 1 remains closed in the affected area, and authorities have advised nearby residents to take precautionary measures to secure their homes.
Authorities confirmed the incident is unrelated to the wildfires currently affecting the Los Angeles region. However, the severity of the fire at the power plant remains unclear, and containment operations are ongoing. At this time, there is no estimate for when evacuation orders will be lifted.
The Moss Landing Power Plant, along with its adjoining lithium-ion battery facility, is located within a sensitive ecosystem that includes the Moss Landing Wildlife Area, Elkhorn Slough State Marine Reserve, and Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve.