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Massive Fire at Vistra Energy's Moss Landing Battery Storage Facility Prompts Evacuation of 1,500, Closes Highway 1

Jan 17, 2025, 05:58 AM

A massive fire erupted at the Moss Landing Power Plant in Monterey County, California, prompting widespread evacuations and road closures. The fire, which started around 3 p.m. on Thursday, was reported at the Vistra Energy battery storage facility, one of the largest in the world with a capacity of 750 megawatts, housing tens of thousands of lithium batteries. About 40% of the building has burned away, releasing toxic smoke into the air. Evacuation orders were issued for areas south of the Elkhorn Slough, north of Molera Road and Monterey Dunes Way, and west of Castroville Boulevard and Elkhorn Road to the ocean, affecting zones MRY-B037, MRY-B047, MRY-B050, MRY-B051, MRY-B053, MRY-B058, and MRY-B060. Approximately 1,500 residents were instructed to leave the area. Highway 1 was closed in both directions, with northbound traffic directed off at the Highway 183 junction and southbound traffic at Struve Road, with no estimated time for reopening. The Castroville Recreation Center at 11261 Crane St. was established as a temporary evacuation point. All schools in the North Monterey County Unified School District were closed on Friday due to the fire. No injuries have been reported, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation. Local authorities and Vistra Energy have emphasized the safety of the community and personnel as their top priority.