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

Jan 17, 2025, 01:50 PM

On Thursday afternoon, a significant fire erupted at the Moss Landing Power Plant in Monterey County, California. The blaze started at a battery storage facility owned by Vistra Energy, one of the world's largest such facilities containing tens of thousands of lithium-ion batteries used to store energy from solar and other sources. The fire prompted evacuation orders for nearby residents, affecting around 1,700 people in the Moss Landing and Elkhorn Slough areas, specifically in zones MRY-B047 and MRY-B053. Authorities also closed Highway 1 in both directions near the site. Officials warned of toxic smoke from the fire, advising residents to close windows and doors and to stay indoors to avoid exposure. Fire crews have been monitoring the situation, but due to the hazardous nature of lithium battery fires, they are allowing the fire to burn itself out under expert advice and are not actively fighting it. The fire flared up again after initial reports suggested it was under control. Monterey County Sheriff's Commander Andres Rosas stated that about 40% of the building has burned away, describing the situation by saying, "There's no way to sugarcoat it. This is a disaster." This is the fourth fire at the facility since 2019, raising concerns about the safety of large-scale battery storage. There is no immediate timeline for when the fire will be fully extinguished, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.