A massive fire erupted at the Moss Landing Power Plant, approximately 77 miles south of San Francisco, on Thursday, leading to significant safety and environmental concerns. The plant, owned by Texas-based Vistra Corp, houses tens of thousands of lithium batteries. By early Friday morning, the blaze continued to rage, emitting toxic smoke that prompted the evacuation of 1,700 people from the surrounding area. Despite the intensity of the fire, it had not extended beyond the facility's boundaries as of Friday morning.
The incident has led to widespread disruptions, including the closure of a major highway and all schools and offices within the North Monterey County Unified School District. Fire crews have taken a cautious approach, allowing the fire to burn out on its own rather than engaging directly with the flames. Jenny Lyon, a spokesperson for Vistra, emphasized the company's focus on safety during this crisis.
“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
Emergency services evacuated everyone at the site safely once the fire was detected. With flames continuing to billow toxic smoke into the atmosphere, some residents have sought refuge at a temporary evacuation center, while others opted to stay with friends or family. The Monterey County Board of Supervisors convened an emergency meeting on Friday morning to receive updates and coordinate responses to this unfolding disaster.
Glenn Church, a Monterey County supervisor, acknowledged the severity of the situation.
“There’s no way to sugarcoat it. This is a disaster, is what it is,” – Glenn Church, Monterey county supervisor
This is not the first time the Vistra plant has faced fire-related incidents. Previous fires in 2021 and 2022 were attributed to a malfunctioning fire sprinkler system. These recurring incidents underscore ongoing safety concerns associated with the plant's operations.