A fire was confirmed at the Vistra Power Plant in Moss Landing on Thursday, prompting evacuations and road closures in the area.
The fire was reported shortly after 3 p.m., leading to the evacuation of the building. All Vistra employees, law enforcement, and fire personnel are reported safe, according to the County of Monterey. Firefighters are currently not engaging the blaze, opting to let it burn out on its own, with no estimate on how long it will last.
Emergency responders are stationed nearby, and according to the Monterey County Sheriff's Office, 40% of the battery plant has been affected by the fire.
Vistra, the owner of the battery plant, issued a statement emphasizing the safety of the community and personnel as their top priority. The fire was detected in the 300-MW Phase I energy storage facility, and all site personnel were safely evacuated. The cause of the fire remains unknown, and an investigation will commence once the fire is extinguished.
Monterey County has urged residents in affected zones to close windows and doors, shut off air systems, and avoid the area to facilitate emergency access. Similarly, Santa Cruz County Public Health officials have advised residents to stay indoors, limit outdoor exposure, and turn off ventilation systems. San Benito County reported no immediate threat to its residents but is closely monitoring the situation.
Several road closures have been announced, including both directions of Highway 1 at Salinas Road and multiple local roads around Moss Landing. Authorities recommend using Highway 101 as an alternative route. There is no timeline for when these roads will reopen.
Road Closures
Caltrans has reported that both directions of Highway 1 at Salinas Road are currently closed due to the fire at the Moss Landing power plant. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) advises using Highway 101 as an alternative route.
Additional closures include:
- Highway 183 (Merritt Road) – Hard closure
- Dolan Road at Castroville Boulevard – Hard closure
- Highway 1 at Struve Road – Closed
- Paradise Road at Walker Valley Road – Closed
- Elkhorn Road at Bayview Road – Closed
- Elkhorn Road at Walker Valley Road – Closed
- Elkhorn Road at Strawberry Road – Closed
- Elkhorn Road at Hidden Valley Road – Closed
- Elkhorn Road between Kirby Road and Wauh Road – Closed
- Elkhorn Road at the intersection of Hall Road near the fire station – Closed
- Russo Road at Dolan Road – Closed
- Trafton Road to Bluff Road – Closed
There is currently no estimate for when these roads will be reopened.
Evacuation orders are in place for areas south of Elkhorn Slough, north of Molera Road and Monterey Dunes Way, and west of Castroville Boulevard and Elkhorn Road to the ocean, affecting 1,214 people and 7,676 acres. The Monterey County Sheriff's Office confirmed that evacuations have been completed.
In response to the fire, the North Monterey County Unified School District has closed all schools and district offices on Friday, with further assessments to follow after the holiday. The Pajaro Valley Unified School District will remain open but is monitoring air quality and will provide updates as needed.
Evacuation Center
The Castroville Recreation Center, located at 11261 Crane Street, has been opened as a temporary evacuation site.
Leaders Respond to Moss Landing Fire
Assemblymember Dawn Addis (D-Morro Bay) released a statement regarding the fire at the Moss Landing energy storage facility:
"The safety and wellbeing of our communities are my top priorities. I am closely monitoring the situation in Moss Landing and its impact on the surrounding areas. I am in ongoing communication with local and state agencies to ensure our community and first responders have the necessary resources. I am deeply concerned and have serious questions about the safety of this battery energy storage facility. Transparency and accountability are essential to understanding why this incident occurred again. I am actively exploring options to prevent future fires in battery energy storage facilities along the Central Coast."
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