A fire at California’s 75-year-old Vistra Moss Landing power plant and lithium battery storage facility forced evacuations and road closures Thursday. The plant, near the San Francisco Bay Area, is one of the world’s largest energy storage facilities.
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office issued evacuation orders for areas south of Elkhorn Slough, including Molera Road and Monterey Dunes Way. Portions of Highway 1 near the site were closed as crews battled the flames. A temporary evacuation shelter was established at the Castroville Recreation Center.
According to Vistra Corp., the operator of the facility, the fire began in the 300-megawatt lithium-ion battery storage section Thursday afternoon. All employees were safely evacuated. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Health officials have advised nearby residents to stay indoors and limit outdoor exposure due to heavy smoke.
The Moss Landing plant, originally built in 1950 as a natural gas facility, transitioned to include battery storage in recent years. It has faced previous issues with overheating battery modules, leading to shutdowns in 2021 and 2022.
A Red Flag Warning remains in effect for the region, with officials urging residents to stay vigilant.
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