A lithium-ion battery fire broke out at the Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility on Thursday, burning through the night and flaring up again Friday. A local state of emergency was declared on Friday, and the county board of supervisors will look to ratify it at a special meeting on Tuesday. The battery facility, one of several located at the former Moss Landing Power Plant, is owned and operated by Vistra Energy. The Vistra facility is the largest battery storage plant in the world. The cause of the fire is unknown, but as with all lithium-ion battery fires, the fire burns extremely hot and can’t easily be put out. County officials said Friday morning that 75% of the battery plant had burned.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. However, as of Saturday, the flames subsided, and the building continued to smolder. Since this fire impacted dozens of batteries at once, firefighters could not stop the fire once it took off. According to North Monterey County fire, the battery facility has a fire suppression system, but it failed to stop the fire. The exact nature of the failure was not reported. Elkhorn Slough Reserve is closed until further notice due to potential health risks from the fire. EvacuationsAs of 6 p.m. Friday, all evacuation orders were lifted. Originally, evacuations had been issued for Moss Landing and rural areas surrounding the battery storage facility. Road closuresHighway 1 at Struve Road Highway 1 at Potrero Road Elkhorn Road between Kirby Road and Waugh Road, Elkhorn Road and Hall Road, at Castroville Boulevard, at Bayview Road516 Dolan Road (Pick-n-Pull) Hidden Valley Road at Elkhorn RoadParadise Road at Walker Valley RoadRusso Road at Dolan RoadStrawberry Road at Elkhorn RoadTrafton Road at McGowan Road, Trafton Road at Salinas RoadWalker Valley Road at Elkhorn RoadDolan Road at Castroville Boulevard, Dolan Road at Via Tanques.Moss Landing Road at Sandholdt Road, Moss Landing Road North at Highway 1 and Moss Landing at Highway 1 at the corner of Whole Enchilada.Roads are open to residents needing to get into their homes. There is no estimate for when roads will be reopened to the public. However, CHP says that the closure will remain overnight. Air qualityThe 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 Friday.Yet, county health in Monterey counties advises that residents stay indoors, close windows and doors, limit outdoor exposure and turn off ventilation systems. Similarly, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties asked residents to do the same.”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,” recommends the health department in San Benito County. MBARD also notes there are no concentrations above normal air quality conditions that are normal for this time of year. Current air quality conditions can be viewed HERE. Vistra’s responseThe owner of the battery plant, Vistra, gave the following statement to KSBW 8 at the time of the fire:”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.”See more coverage of top Central Coast stories here | Download our app | Download Very Local
A lithium-ion battery fire broke out at the Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility on Thursday, burning through the night and flaring up again Friday. A local state of emergency was declared on Friday, and the county board of supervisors will look to ratify it at a special meeting on Tuesday.
The battery facility, one of several located at the former Moss Landing Power Plant, is owned and operated by Vistra Energy. The Vistra facility is the largest battery storage plant in the world.
The cause of the fire is unknown, but as with all lithium-ion battery fires, the fire burns extremely hot and can’t easily be put out. County officials said Friday morning that 75% of the battery plant had burned.
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. However, as of Saturday, the flames subsided, and the building continued to smolder.
Since this fire impacted dozens of batteries at once, firefighters could not stop the fire once it took off.
According to North Monterey County fire, the battery facility has a fire suppression system, but it failed to stop the fire. The exact nature of the failure was not reported.
Elkhorn Slough Reserve is closed until further notice due to potential health risks from the fire.
Evacuations
As of 6 p.m. Friday, all evacuation orders were lifted. Originally, evacuations had been issued for Moss Landing and rural areas surrounding the battery storage facility.
Road closures
- Highway 1 at Struve Road
- Highway 1 at Potrero Road
- Elkhorn Road between Kirby Road and Waugh Road, Elkhorn Road and Hall Road, at Castroville Boulevard, at Bayview Road
- 516 Dolan Road (Pick-n-Pull)
- Hidden Valley Road at Elkhorn Road
- Paradise Road at Walker Valley Road
- Russo Road at Dolan Road
- Strawberry Road at Elkhorn Road
- Trafton Road at McGowan Road, Trafton Road at Salinas Road
- Walker Valley Road at Elkhorn Road
- Dolan Road at Castroville Boulevard, Dolan Road at Via Tanques.
- Moss Landing Road at Sandholdt Road, Moss Landing Road North at Highway 1 and Moss Landing at Highway 1 at the corner of Whole Enchilada.
Roads are open to residents needing to get into their homes.
There is no estimate for when roads will be reopened to the public. However, CHP says that the closure will remain overnight.
Air quality
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 Friday.
Yet, county health in Monterey counties advises that residents stay indoors, close windows and doors, limit outdoor exposure and turn off ventilation systems. Similarly, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties asked residents to do the same.
“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,” recommends the health department in San Benito County.
MBARD also notes there are no concentrations above normal air quality conditions that are normal for this time of year. Current air quality conditions can be viewed HERE.
Vistra’s response
The owner of the battery plant, Vistra, gave the following statement to KSBW 8 at the time of the fire:
“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.”
See more coverage of top Central Coast stories here | Download our app | Download Very Local
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