Announcements from the Monterey County Sheriff's Office

Fire at World's Largest Battery Plant in California Forces 1,700 to Evacuate

Jan 17, 2025, 01:48 PM

A fire erupted at approximately 3 p.m. on Thursday at the Moss Landing Power Plant in Monterey County, California, one of the world's largest battery storage facilities, prompting evacuation orders and road closures. The Monterey County Sheriff's Office ordered the evacuation of about 1,700 residents in zones MRY-B047 and MRY-B053 near Elkhorn Slough due to concerns over toxic heavy metal smoke from the lithium-ion batteries. Highway 1 was closed in both directions at Salinas Road and Merrit Street. The facility, operated by Vistra Corp, has experienced four fires since 2019, raising safety concerns. Fire crews responded to the blaze, and officials are monitoring the situation closely. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and authorities noted that the plant's fire suppression system was insufficient. Video footage showed bright flames emitting from the site.