New Moss Landing Plant Fire Prompts Shelter Order
New Moss Landing Plant Fire Prompts Shelter Order
Anonymous
Key Points
1
The shelter-in-place order specifically covered emergency zones MRY-B047, MRY-B050 and MRY-B053, according to Monterey County’s Department of Emergency Management.
2
The January 2025 fire led to the evacuation of about 1,200 nearby residents and the declaration of a state of emergency.
3
Officials had previously reported that roughly 5,000 fire-damaged batteries remained in difficult-to-reach areas of the Vistra facility, while the EPA warned that removing batteries, ash and debris posed a high risk of additional smoking events.
4
The Moss Landing site was formerly an electric power plant and had become one of the world’s largest battery-storage facilities under the operation of Texas-based Vistra; the January fire prompted an investigation by the California governor’s office.
5
Traffic information varied across early reports: the California Highway Patrol said Dolan Road was closed between Highway 1 and Villa Tanques Road, while reporting indicated that Highway 1 itself was not closed.
A fire erupted Friday morning at the Moss Landing battery storage plant in Monterey County, with smoke and flames visible from the facility's north side shortly after 6:15 a.m. NBC Bay Area reported that firefighters evacuated plant personnel and responded to contain the blaze, while officials issued shelter-in-place orders for nearby zones MRY-B047, MRY-B050, and MRY-B053. Residents were instructed to close windows, shut off air-conditioning systems, and avoid the area.
The fire marks the second major incident at the Vistra-operated facility in two months. Bloomberg reported that three racks of batteries were burning at the site. A January 2025 fire had already damaged more than half of the facility's roughly 100,000 lithium-ion batteries, forced evacuations of about 1,200 nearby residents, and triggered investigations and lawsuits.
Fire Spreads Across Battery Storage Racks
Bloomberg reported that roughly 30 personnel were working at the facility when the fire broke out. Redding stated that the North County Fire Protection District responded to the initial call at 6 a.m. Friday morning and found smoke and flames emerging from the north side of the Moss Landing Power Plant. Three racks of batteries caught fire as flames spread through the storage area.
Lingering Damage From January Fire Complicates Cleanup
The Moss Landing site has struggled with the aftermath of the January 2025 fire for months. Roughly 5,000 fire-damaged batteries remained in difficult-to-reach areas of the Vistra facility, creating hazardous conditions. The EPA had previously warned that removing batteries, ash, and debris posed a high risk of additional smoking events and fires during cleanup operations.
The January fire prompted evacuation of about 1,200 nearby residents and a declaration of a state of emergency by California officials. The Californian reported that residents were now told to shelter in place again as the facility continued to experience problems. The Governor's office launched an investigation into the causes of the January incident.
Road Closures Restrict Access Near Facility
Traffic restrictions were implemented around the Moss Landing site following the fire. The California Highway Patrol reported that Dolan Road was closed between Highway 1 and Villa Tanques Road. Record Net confirmed the shelter-in-place orders and road closures were in effect, though early reports varied on whether Highway 1 itself was affected by the incident.
The Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, located near the facility, was also closed due to air quality concerns from the fire. Residents in the affected zones were instructed to keep windows and doors closed and to avoid using outside air systems until emergency officials cleared the area.
Vistra's Battery Facility Faces Ongoing Scrutiny
The Moss Landing site, operated by Texas-based Vistra, has become one of the world's largest battery storage facilities. The January fire significantly damaged the facility's infrastructure and raised questions about battery storage safety. The extent of damage from Friday's fire and whether it originated at the Vistra site or at a nearby PG&E battery facility remained unclear in early reports.
Sentiment
Mostly NegativeNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
24
Articles
23
Reach
47
A
AnonymousAuthor
