A fire erupted at Vistra Corp.’s Moss Landing lithium battery storage plant in California, leading to the evacuation of approximately 1,500 residents due to toxic smoke concerns. The blaze began on Thursday afternoon and continued overnight, contained within a partially collapsed concrete structure. Local authorities emphasized the seriousness of the situation, urging residents to evacuate and adhere to safety instructions. The fire involved highly flammable lithium batteries; however, no injuries have been reported.
The evacuation order encompassed areas south of Elkhorn Slough, among others. The Moss Landing facility, one of the largest battery storage plants globally, supports California’s renewable energy goals by storing 750 megawatts of electricity. Despite the incident, PG&E’s separate battery storage unit nearby remained unaffected. The cause of the fire is under investigation, with officials expected to provide updates as more information becomes available.
