A fire broke out at a battery power plant in Central California on Thursday night, leading to evacuation orders and road closures. The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office took action, issuing evacuation orders in the evening, while health officials advised residents to remain indoors, shut windows and doors, limit outdoor exposure, and switch off ventilation systems. The affected areas were delineated on an evacuation map available for viewing. Evacuation orders encompassed regions of Moss Landing situated south of the Elkhorn Slough, north of Molera Road and Monterey Dunes Way, and west of Castroville Boulevard and ElkHorn Road extending to the ocean, as detailed by the sheriff’s office. The Castroville Recreation Center was designated as a temporary evacuation center.
Vistra spokesperson Jenny Lyon conveyed in a statement to USA TODAY on Friday the commitment to community and personnel safety following the fire outbreak at the Moss Landing Power Plant. Lyon highlighted Vistra’s gratitude for the ongoing support from local emergency responders. The alarm was raised by Vistra personnel on Thursday afternoon upon detecting a fire at the 300-Megawatt Phase I energy storage facility within the Moss Landing Power Plant premises. Lyon confirmed the safe evacuation of all site personnel.
As a precautionary measure, the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office issued Evacuation Orders for specified zones in Moss Landing, covering areas south of the Elkhorn Slough, north of Molera Road and Monterey Dunes Way, and west of Castroville Boulevard and ElkHorn Road leading to the ocean. The incident prompted the closure of Highway 1 by the California Highway Patrol around the plant, with other local roads similarly impacted.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, with Lyon affirming that inquiries will commence post-extinguishment. The North Monterey County United School District announced the closure of all schools and offices on Friday due to the fire. Notably, the fire at the Vistra facility is distinct from the ongoing wildfires in Southern California, clarified a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office in conversation with CNN. Moss Landing is geographically located approximately 320 miles northwest of Los Angeles.
In a separate development, progress was reported in combating wildfires in the Los Angeles area, as crews continued their efforts amid subsiding winds. The Vistra plant incident adds to the challenges faced by Californians, with the full extent of the damage yet to be determined. The story will be updated with any new developments as they emerge.
Gabe Hauari, a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY, provided the latest insights on the Moss Landing battery power plant fire incident. For more updates, readers can follow him on X @GabeHauari or contact him via email at Gdhauari@gannett.com. This article was originally published on USA TODAY and has been revised to include the most recent information available.
