More than 1,000 people in Northern California were advised to evacuate after a massive fire broke out at one of the world’s largest battery factories on Thursday afternoon.
Video circulating on social media shows smoke and flames pouring from the Moss Landing Power Plant in the Moss Landing area, about 40 miles south of Santa Cruz, Thursday night.
The power plant, owned by Texas company Vistra Energy, is equipped with tens of thousands of lithium batteries. Lithium batteries are important for storing power from renewable energy sources such as solar energy, but in the event of a blaze they can be extremely difficult to extinguish.
About 1,500 people were told to leave the Moss Landing and Elkhorn Slough areas, the Mercury News reported, as the fire erupted into flames and showed no signs of slowing down by Thursday night.
In an update shared Friday morning, the Santa Cruz County Office of Response, Recovery and Resilience said the fire does not pose an immediate significant threat and people can resume normal activities.
“Sensitive groups, including those who have difficulty breathing, should continue to monitor local air conditions,” the county said in an update posted on X. “While in your home, we encourage residents to keep their doors and windows closed until further notice, especially residents who live near the fire.”
“There’s no way to sugar coat it. This is a disaster and that’s the reality,” Monterey County Supervisor Glenn Church told KSBW-TV. But he said he did not expect the fire to spread beyond the surrounding concrete building.
Fires at the Vistra plant occurred in 2021 and 2022 after a faulty sprinkler system caused some equipment to overheat, according to the Mercury News.
The cause of this fire is unknown. Vistra said in a statement that everyone at the scene was safely evacuated after the discovery. After the fire is extinguished, an investigation will begin.
“Our top priority is the safety of our communities and employees, and Vistra deeply appreciates the continued support of local emergency response forces,” Vistra spokeswoman Jenny Lyon said in a statement. .
The North Monterey County Unified School District announced it would close all schools and offices Friday due to the fire.
