Which Areas Must Evacuate After Fire at Central California Power Plant? – Details
Residents near the Moss Landing Power Plant in Central California were ordered to evacuate their homes Thursday night after a fire broke out at the facility, officials confirmed.
located on the Monterey County coast, serves as a battery storage site and is owned by Vistra Energy. Vistra, a Texas-based company, completed the latest phase of construction on its energy storage facility in 2023.
A view of flames and giant smoke over the sky after a fire erupted at Moss Landing Power Plant in Monterey Bay, California, on January 17, 2025. | Source: Getty Images
The project is part of California’s ongoing push to strengthen its power grid with clean energy solutions. According the facility has the capacity to store 750 megawatts of energy, which can power around 562,000 homes for up to four hours.
Looking ahead, California estimates it will require 52,000 megawatts of energy storage — three times the current amount — by 2045 to meet growing demand and achieve its net-zero emissions target.
Moss Landing Power Plant in California on fire on January 17, 2025. | Source: Getty Images
It was confirmed in an email that the fire started in one of the plant’s lithium-ion batteries on Thursday afternoon around 3p.m., promptingof on-site personnel.
“The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, but an investigation will begin once the fire is extinguished,” Jenny Lyon, a spokesperson for Vistra.
A photo of the fire at Moss Landing Power Plant on January 17, 2025. | Source: Getty Images
By 6:30p.m., or areas south of the Elkhorn Slough, north of Molera Road and Monterey Dunes Way, and west of Castroville Boulevard and Elkhorn Road, according to the
More than 2,000 residents were affected. Official and potential chemical releases from the fire but did not provide details on the specific substances involved.
Moss Landing Power Plant photographed on fire on January 16, 2025. | Source: Getty Images
To assist displaced residents, the Castroville Recreation Center was designated as a temporary evacuation point. “Full Road Closures at: 1. Dolan Rd. and Castroville Blvd. 2. Highway 1 at Salinas Road 3. Highway 1 at Merritt St.” the Monterey County Sheriff’s Officeon its X page.
Fire crews continued battling the blaze as emergency services, including sheriff’s deputies and medical teams, were fully mobilized. Drones were deployed to assess the fire’s severity and monitor air quality, said Monterey County Spokesperson Nicholas Pasculli.
Initially, public health officials in nearby Santa Cruz County to stay indoors, keep windows and doors closed, turn off ventilation systems, and avoid outdoor exposure due to air quality concerns.
showed that about 40% of the building containing lithium-ion batteries on the property had been destroyed by the flames, according to the spokesperson.
Officials are closely to determine any potential environmental impact. Highway 1 was closed in the area, and authorities urged those living near the plant to secure their homes as a precaution.
The incident has to the currently affecting the Los Angeles area, officials clarified. However, the severity of the fire at the power plant remains unknown, and containment efforts are still underway. As of now, there is no timeline for when evacuation orders will be lifted.
