Which Areas Must Evacuate After Fire at Central California Power Plant? – Details

Fire Forces Evacuations Near Moss Landing Power Plant in California

A fire broke out at the Moss Landing Power Plant in Monterey County, California, on Thursday, leading to the evacuation of over 2,000 residents. The blaze, which started in a lithium-ion battery, raised concerns about hazardous materials.

The Moss Landing Power Plant, operated by Vistra Energy, is a natural gas facility and battery storage site capable of storing 750 megawatts of energy—enough to power 562,000 homes for four hours. The fire began around 3 p.m. and led to evacuation orders by 6:30 p.m. for areas near Elkhorn Slough, Molera Road, Monterey Dunes Way, Castroville Boulevard, and Elkhorn Road.

Jenny Lyon, a spokesperson for Vistra, stated, “The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, but an investigation will begin once the fire is extinguished.”

Evacuation orders remain in place as crews battle the blaze. California’s growing reliance on battery storage underscores the need for stringent safety measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.