A major fire erupted at the Moss Landing Power Plant in California on January 17, 2025, prompting the evacuation of approximately 1,500 residents. The facility, which is one of the world’s largest battery storage plants and located about 77 miles south of San Francisco, experienced significant flames and smoke after the blaze began Thursday afternoon.
- Major fire at Moss Landing Power Plant
- Evacuations ordered for 1,500 residents
- Fire still burning with some containment
- Vistra Energy owns the battery storage plant
- Previous fires occurred in 2021 and 2022
- Schools closed due to the fire
As emergency responders worked to contain the fire, part of Highway 1 was closed early Friday. Officials reported that while some containment had been achieved, the fire remained active within the plant’s concrete structure.
The Moss Landing Power Plant is owned by Vistra Energy and stores tens of thousands of lithium batteries essential for renewable energy storage. These types of fires can be particularly challenging to extinguish due to the nature of lithium batteries. Local officials have expressed concern over potential hazards but noted that they do not expect the flames to spread beyond the building’s confines.
In response to this incident, Monterey County officials held an emergency meeting for updates on firefighting efforts. Previous incidents at this facility occurred in 2021 and 2022 due to malfunctioning sprinkler systems that caused overheating issues. As investigations into this latest fire begin once it is extinguished, Vistra has assured that all personnel were safely evacuated when the blaze was detected.
The North Monterey County Unified School District announced school closures for Friday as a precautionary measure related to air quality and safety concerns from smoke exposure. Local authorities continue monitoring air quality levels in surrounding areas affected by smoke from the ongoing fire.
This incident highlights ongoing safety challenges faced by large battery storage facilities amid increasing reliance on renewable energy sources. Authorities are committed to ensuring community safety while investigating this significant event.
