Many residents in Northern California were told to evacuate Thursday after a fire broke out at one of the largest battery storage facilities in the world.
According to Newsweek, the fire reportedly started at the Moss Landing Power Plant at around 3 pm local time on Thursday, sending toxic plumes of smoke into the air. Stored within the facility are lithium-ion batteries, which authorities say are difficult to extinguish once they ignite.
Monterey County Sheriff’s Department issued evacuation orders Thursday evening. At the same time, Monterey County spokesperson Nicholas Pasculli told the Associated Press the fire had not moved beyond the facility but was still burning with some containment early on Friday.
The plant is located about 80 miles south of San Francisco and stores tens of thousands of lithium batteries which store electricity generated by solar power and other renewable sources.
Authorities have said the fire is unrelated to the Los Angeles wildfires.
Monterey County health officials have told residents to “monitor local news and social media for additional updates. Further information will be provided as the situation changes.”
KSBW reported a spokesperson from Vistra Energy, the Texas-based owners of the storage facility, had issued a statement saying they had not yet determined the cause of the fire at the facility.
“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.” the statement said, “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.”
Monterey County Sheriff’s Commander Andres Rosas told KSBW that approximately 40% of the plant had been burned.
“There are no active fire suppression measures taking place. What that means is they are not putting water, foam, any substance on,” Rosas said. “This fire is burning hot, according to fire personnel, and yes, these, the best thing for these batteries are for them to burn completely.”
