A fire was confirmed at the Vistra Power Plant in Moss Landing on Thursday, forcing evacuations and closing roads in the area. Then, the fire flared up on Friday. The Vistra battery plant in Moss Landing is the largest in the world.The fire was first reported shortly after 3 p.m. The building was evacuated when the fire started. All Vistra employees, law and fire personnel are safe, per the county of Monterey.Firefighters are not engaging the fire and are waiting for it to burn out on its own. It is unknown how long the fire will last. County officials informed the public on Friday morning that a local emergency was declared. This was announced at an emergency meeting Friday. Elkhorn Slough Reserve is closed until further notice due to potential health risks from the fire.Moments Fire First Erupted in Moss LandingThe plume of smoke coming from the fire is considered toxic but has gone up high enough that it is currently not a concern for residents, per officials at the meeting.”It appears that there was good dispersion or dilution of smoke from the fire and the plume was elevated above populated areas traveling towards Watsonville and Santa Cruz County. Based on the elevated plume and particulate matter monitor and sensor data, smoke from the battery fire did not impact ground-level areas where people live.” “It should be noted that MBARD does not have the capability to test for hydrofluoric acid (HF), a toxic air pollutant of concern associated with battery fire emissions from lithium battery fires. HF is a highly reactive gas that can readily react with water to form hydrofluoric acid, which can further react with other substances in the environment, impacting its mobility and toxicity. HF is lighter than air and generally rises when volatilized in a fire,” said the Monterey Bay Air Resources District. Monitor air quality, HERE. A total of 11 families, 37 people, stayed at the emergency shelter overnight.Emergency responders are staged in the area.County officials said on Friday morning that 75% of the battery plant had burned.The county of Monterey’s Board of Supervisors held an emergency meeting at the Castroville Library at 8:30 a.m. Friday to discuss the fire. Past Coverage | Firefighters continue to monitor after Moss Landing battery facility suffers malfunction. The owner of the battery plant, Vistra, gave the following statement to KSBW 8:”There is an ongoing fire at our Moss Landing Power Plant site. Our top priority is the safety of the community and our personnel, and Vistra deeply appreciates the continued assistance of our local emergency responders.”Earlier this afternoon, Vistra personnel called for assistance from the North Monterey County Fire District after a fire was detected in the 300-MW Phase I energy storage facility at the Moss Landing Power Plant site. All site personnel were safely evacuated. ”The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, but an investigation will begin once the fire is extinguished.”Earlier on Thursday afternoon, Vistra personnel called for assistance from the North Monterey County Fire District after a fire was detected in the 300-MW Phase I energy storage facility at the Moss Landing Power Plant site. All site personnel were safely evacuated. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, but an investigation will begin once the fire is extinguished.The county of Monterey sent the following message to residents in the area:”North County Fire Department is currently responding to a fire at Moss Landing Power Plant. Out of an abundance of caution, the fire department urges residents in Zones MRY-B047 and MRY-B053 to close windows and doors and shut off air systems until further notice. Residents are also requested to stay out of the area to allow for access of emergency vehicles.”See what zone you are in, HERE.”Santa Cruz County Public Health officials advise residents to stay indoors, keep windows and doors closed, limit outdoor exposure, and turn off ventilation systems. Monitor local news and social media for additional updates. Further information will be provided as the situation changes,” according to a CruzAware message sent out to Santa Cruz County residents.Monterey County health officials have also advised residents to stay indoors, close windows and doors, limit outdoor exposure and turn off ventilation systems.San Benito County Public Health Department is recommending anyone with underlying respiratory issues stay inside.”For others, it is recommended you minimize your time outside and if you must go outside, please try to wear a N95 mask or other respiratory protective mask,” said the health department. Road ClosuresCaltrans says a full closure of Highway 1 remains At 6 p.m. Friday, the southern end of the closure will move to just north of Potrero Road in Moss Landing. The northern closure remains at Struve Road. There is no estimated time for reopening.516 Dolan Road (Pick-n-Pull) Highway 1 at Struve RoadHighway 1 at Potrero RoadMoss Landing Road North at Highway 1Residents can access closed roads. There is no estimate for when the rest of the roads will be reopened.Evacuation OrdersAll evacuation orders have been lifted in areas near the Moss Landing battery plant fire. Evacuations were ordered on Thursday evening and impacted 1,214 people. More Coverage | Second battery malfunction in less than 6 months reported at Moss Landing power plantSchool ClosuresNorth Monterey County Unified School District announced that all of its schools and district offices are closed on Friday. There is a holiday on Monday, but after that, they will assess whether they need to remain closed.Hartnell College will also close its Castroville Education Center on Friday due to the fire.Pajaro Valley Unified School District said all its schools will remain open on Friday. It will monitor air quality and will update families with any updates.Hollister High School canceled after-school outdoor practices and activities on Friday and will keep windows and doors on campus closed this afternoon and evening. The night boys basketball games against North Monterey County in Mattson Gym will continue as scheduled, with the doors to the gym being kept closed.Evacuation CenterThe Castroville Recreation Center is being opened as a temporary evacuation point. It is located at 11261 Crane Street.Hotels are offering evacuation rates for impacted residents.Leaders Comment on Moss Landing FireAssemblymember Dawn Addis (D-Morro Bay) issued the following statement following the news of the fire at the Moss Landing energy storage facility:“The safety and wellbeing of our communities remain my number one priority. I am closely monitoring the fire in Moss Landing and its effects on surrounding areas. I am in open communication with local and state agencies to ensure our community and our first responders have the resources they need. I am deeply concerned and have serious questions about the safety of this battery energy storage plant. I will be looking for transparency and accountability for why this happened again at Moss Landing. I am exploring all options for preventing future battery energy storage fires from ever occurring again on the Central Coast.”Live Interview With Supervisor Glenn Church on Fire:See more coverage of top Central Coast stories here | Download our app | Download Very Local
A fire was confirmed at the Vistra Power Plant in Moss Landing on Thursday, forcing evacuations and closing roads in the area. Then, the fire flared up on Friday.
The Vistra battery plant in Moss Landing is the largest in the world.
The fire was first reported shortly after 3 p.m. The building was evacuated when the fire started. All Vistra employees, law and fire personnel are safe, per the county of Monterey.
Firefighters are not engaging the fire and are waiting for it to burn out on its own. It is unknown how long the fire will last.
County officials informed the public on Friday morning that a local emergency was declared. This was announced at an emergency meeting Friday.
Elkhorn Slough Reserve is closed until further notice due to potential health risks from the fire.
Moments Fire First Erupted in Moss Landing
The plume of smoke coming from the fire is considered toxic but has gone up high enough that it is currently not a concern for residents, per officials at the meeting.
“It appears that there was good dispersion or dilution of smoke from the fire and the plume was elevated above populated areas traveling towards Watsonville and Santa Cruz County. Based on the elevated plume and particulate matter monitor and sensor data, smoke from the battery fire did not impact ground-level areas where people live.”
“It should be noted that MBARD does not have the capability to test for hydrofluoric acid (HF), a toxic air pollutant of concern associated with battery fire emissions from lithium battery fires. HF is a highly reactive gas that can readily react with water to form hydrofluoric acid, which can further react with other substances in the environment, impacting its mobility and toxicity. HF is lighter than air and generally rises when volatilized in a fire,” said the Monterey Bay Air Resources District.
A total of 11 families, 37 people, stayed at the emergency shelter overnight.
Emergency responders are staged in the area.
County officials said on Friday morning that 75% of the battery plant had burned.
The county of Monterey’s Board of Supervisors held an emergency meeting at the Castroville Library at 8:30 a.m. Friday to discuss the fire.
Past Coverage | Firefighters continue to monitor after Moss Landing battery facility suffers malfunction.
The owner of the battery plant, Vistra, gave the following statement to KSBW 8:
“There is an ongoing fire at our Moss Landing Power Plant site. Our top priority is the safety of the community and our personnel, and Vistra deeply appreciates the continued assistance of our local emergency responders.
“Earlier this afternoon, Vistra personnel called for assistance from the North Monterey County Fire District after a fire was detected in the 300-MW Phase I energy storage facility at the Moss Landing Power Plant site. All site personnel were safely evacuated.
“The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, but an investigation will begin once the fire is extinguished.”
Earlier on Thursday afternoon, Vistra personnel called for assistance from the North Monterey County Fire District after a fire was detected in the 300-MW Phase I energy storage facility at the Moss Landing Power Plant site. All site personnel were safely evacuated.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, but an investigation will begin once the fire is extinguished.
The county of Monterey sent the following message to residents in the area:
“North County Fire Department is currently responding to a fire at Moss Landing Power Plant. Out of an abundance of caution, the fire department urges residents in Zones MRY-B047 and MRY-B053 to close windows and doors and shut off air systems until further notice. Residents are also requested to stay out of the area to allow for access of emergency vehicles.”
See what zone you are in, HERE.
“Santa Cruz County Public Health officials advise residents to stay indoors, keep windows and doors closed, limit outdoor exposure, and turn off ventilation systems. Monitor local news and social media for additional updates. Further information will be provided as the situation changes,” according to a CruzAware message sent out to Santa Cruz County residents.
Monterey County health officials have also advised residents to stay indoors, close windows and doors, limit outdoor exposure and turn off ventilation systems.
San Benito County Public Health Department is recommending anyone with underlying respiratory issues stay inside.
“For others, it is recommended you minimize your time outside and if you must go outside, please try to wear a N95 mask or other respiratory protective mask,” said the health department.
Road Closures
- Caltrans says a full closure of Highway 1 remains At 6 p.m. Friday, the southern end of the closure will move to just north of Potrero Road in Moss Landing. The northern closure remains at Struve Road. There is no estimated time for reopening.
- 516 Dolan Road (Pick-n-Pull)
- Highway 1 at Struve Road
- Highway 1 at Potrero Road
- Moss Landing Road North at Highway 1
Residents can access closed roads.
There is no estimate for when the rest of the roads will be reopened.
Evacuation Orders
All evacuation orders have been lifted in areas near the Moss Landing battery plant fire. Evacuations were ordered on Thursday evening and impacted 1,214 people.
More Coverage | Second battery malfunction in less than 6 months reported at Moss Landing power plant
School Closures
North Monterey County Unified School District announced that all of its schools and district offices are closed on Friday. There is a holiday on Monday, but after that, they will assess whether they need to remain closed.
Hartnell College will also close its Castroville Education Center on Friday due to the fire.
Pajaro Valley Unified School District said all its schools will remain open on Friday. It will monitor air quality and will update families with any updates.
Hollister High School canceled after-school outdoor practices and activities on Friday and will keep windows and doors on campus closed this afternoon and evening. The night boys basketball games against North Monterey County in Mattson Gym will continue as scheduled, with the doors to the gym being kept closed.
Evacuation Center
The Castroville Recreation Center is being opened as a temporary evacuation point. It is located at 11261 Crane Street.
Hotels are offering evacuation rates for impacted residents.
Assemblymember Dawn Addis (D-Morro Bay) issued the following statement following the news of the fire at the Moss Landing energy storage facility:
“The safety and wellbeing of our communities remain my number one priority. I am closely monitoring the fire in Moss Landing and its effects on surrounding areas. I am in open communication with local and state agencies to ensure our community and our first responders have the resources they need. I am deeply concerned and have serious questions about the safety of this battery energy storage plant. I will be looking for transparency and accountability for why this happened again at Moss Landing. I am exploring all options for preventing future battery energy storage fires from ever occurring again on the Central Coast.”
Live Interview With Supervisor Glenn Church on Fire:
See more coverage of top Central Coast stories here | Download our app | Download Very Local
