Trending Topics

Hundreds evacuate as Calif. Li-ion battery plant, one of the world’s largest, burns

“This is a disaster,” Monterey County Supervisor Glenn Church said when describing the fire at the Moss Landing Power Plant

Associated Press

MOSS LANDING, Calif. — Hundreds of people were ordered to evacuate and part of Highway 1 in Northern California was closed after a major fire erupted at one of the world’s largest battery storage plants.

The fire started Thursday afternoon and sent up towering flames and black smoke, and about 1,500 people were instructed to leave Moss Landing and the Elkhorn Slough area, The Mercury News reported. It showed no sign of easing by Thursday night.

The Moss Landing Power Plant, located about 77 miles (about 124 kilometers) south of San Francisco, is owned by Texas-company Vistra Energy and contains tens of thousands of lithium batteries. The batteries are important for storing electricity from such renewable energy sources as solar energy, but if they go up in flames the blazes can be extremely difficult to put out.

“There’s no way to sugarcoat it. This is a disaster, is what it is,” Monterey County Supervisor Glenn Church told KSBW-TV. But he said he did not expect the fire to spread beyond the concrete building it was enclosed in.

There were fires at the Vistra plant in 2021 and 2022 that were caused by a fire sprinkler system malfunction that resulted in some units overheating, according to The Mercury News.

It was unclear what caused this latest fire. Vistra said in a statement that after it was detected, everyone at the site was evacuated safely. After the fire is out, an investigation will begin.

“Our top priority is the safety of the community and our personnel, and Vistra deeply appreciates the continued assistance of our local emergency responders,” Jenny Lyon, a spokesperson for Vistra, said in a statement.

North Monterey County Unified School District announced that all schools and offices would be closed Friday due to the fire.

Trending
PJ Helicopters’ UH-60 Blackhawk will again support Cal Fire-Butte County this wildfire season under a renewed PG&E contract
Dozens are missing after flash floods hit Texas Hill Country, triggering rescue efforts and scrutiny over warning systems
At least 51 people, including 15 children, are dead and 27 girls remain missing after a flash flood devastated Camp Mystic and surrounding areas in Kerr County
Richmond marked the anniversary of hiring Virginia’s first professional Black firefighters, honoring the legacy of Engine Co. 9 and the men who broke barriers in 1950