{"id":18784,"date":"2025-01-17T21:09:56","date_gmt":"2025-01-17T21:09:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/?p=18784"},"modified":"2025-01-17T21:09:56","modified_gmt":"2025-01-17T21:09:56","slug":"which-areas-must-evacuate-after-fire-at-central-california-power-plant-details","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/?p=18784","title":{"rendered":"Which Areas Must Evacuate After Fire at Central California Power Plant? \u2013 Details"},"content":{"rendered":"

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A fire at a central California power plant has forced more than 2,000 residents to evacuate amid fears of hazardous materials. As crews battle the blaze, find out which areas were ordered to evacuate as a safety measure.<\/p>\n

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Residents near the Moss Landing Power Plant in Central California were ordered to evacuate their homes Thursday night after a fire broke out at the facility, officials confirmed.<\/p>\n

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The natural\u00a0gas-fueled plant<\/a>, located on the Monterey County coast, serves as a battery storage site and is owned by Vistra Energy. Vistra, a Texas-based company, completed the latest phase of construction on its energy storage facility in 2023.<\/p>\n

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A view of flames and giant smoke over the sky after a fire erupted at Moss Landing Power Plant in Monterey Bay, California, on January 17, 2025. | Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n

The project is part of California’s ongoing push to strengthen its power grid with clean energy solutions. According to\u00a0reports<\/a>, the facility has the capacity to store 750 megawatts of energy, which can power around 562,000 homes for up to four hours.<\/p>\n

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Looking ahead, California estimates it will require 52,000 megawatts of energy storage \u2014 three times the current amount \u2014 by 2045 to meet growing demand and achieve its net-zero emissions target.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Moss Landing Power Plant in California on fire on January 17, 2025. | Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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It was confirmed in an email that the fire started in one of the plant’s lithium-ion batteries on Thursday afternoon around 3p.m., prompting\u00a0immediate evacuation<\/a>\u00a0of on-site personnel.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, but an investigation will begin once the fire is extinguished,”\u00a0said<\/a>\u00a0Jenny Lyon, a spokesperson for Vistra.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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A photo of the fire at Moss Landing Power Plant on January 17, 2025. | Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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By 6:30p.m.,\u00a0evacuation orders were issued<\/a>\u00a0for areas south of the Elkhorn Slough, north of Molera Road and Monterey Dunes Way, and west of Castroville Boulevard and Elkhorn Road, according to the\u00a0Monterey County Sheriff’s Office<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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More than 2,000 residents were affected. Officials cited\u00a0concerns over hazardous materials<\/a>\u00a0and potential chemical releases from the fire but did not provide details on the specific substances involved.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Moss Landing Power Plant photographed on fire on January 16, 2025. | Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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To assist displaced residents, the Castroville Recreation Center was designated as a temporary evacuation point. “Full Road Closures at: 1. Dolan Rd. and Castroville Blvd. 2. Highway 1 at Salinas Road 3. Highway 1 at Merritt St.” the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office\u00a0announced<\/a>\u00a0on its X page.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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