Fire at California's Moss Landing Battery Plant Prompts Evacuations
Moss Landing, California, Friday, 17 January 2025.
A massive fire at Vistra’s Moss Landing Battery Plant forced evacuations and road closures. Although labeled non-hazardous, toxic smoke risk remains due to burning lithium-ion batteries.
Emergency Response and Immediate Impact
The fire erupted at approximately 3:00 PM on Thursday, January 16, 2025, at what was once the world’s largest battery storage facility [1][6]. By the following morning, approximately 75% of the battery plant had burned [1], prompting authorities to evacuate 1,214 people across a 7,676-acre zone [1]. The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office issued evacuation orders for multiple zones, with the Castroville Recreation Center serving as a temporary evacuation point [4].
Safety Measures and Public Health Response
Local authorities have implemented extensive safety protocols, with residents in Zones MRY-B047 and MRY-B053 specifically advised to close windows, doors, and shut off air systems [1][5]. North Monterey County Unified School District closed all schools on January 17, 2025, while Hartnell College shut down its Castroville Education Center [1]. Firefighters are taking a monitored approach, allowing the fire to burn out naturally rather than engaging with water suppression, due to the unique challenges posed by lithium battery fires [6].
Official Response and Investigation
Vistra Energy, the facility’s owner, has confirmed that all employees were safely evacuated [1]. Assemblymember Dawn Addis (D-Morro Bay) expressed serious concerns about the facility’s safety, stating, ‘I have serious questions about the safety of this battery energy storage plant’ [6]. The cause of the fire remains undetermined, with investigations scheduled to begin once the fire is fully extinguished [1][5].
Economic and Infrastructure Impact
The incident has resulted in significant infrastructure disruptions, including the closure of Highway 1 in both directions [2]. This event raises important questions about the safety protocols of large-scale battery storage facilities, which are crucial for storing renewable energy [5]. The Moss Landing facility, located approximately 90 kilometers south of San Francisco, contains tens of thousands of lithium batteries essential for storing electricity from renewable sources [5].