Fire at World’s Largest Battery Storage Facility Prompts Evacuations in California

A blaze at the Moss Landing Power Plant in Monterey County has destroyed much of its lithium battery facility, forcing evacuations and road closures.

The fire began on January 16, 2025, at the Moss Landing Power Plant, a Vistra Energy-owned facility, and was primarily contained within its 300-megawatt battery storage building.
Evacuation orders affected approximately 1,200 to 1,500 residents in the Moss Landing area, with Highway 1 and other local roads closed as a precaution.
Lithium-ion battery fires are notoriously difficult to extinguish due to their ability to re-ignite; firefighters allowed the blaze to burn itself out to minimize risks.
No injuries or fatalities have been reported, and air quality monitoring has not detected hazardous levels of toxic gases, though residents were advised to stay indoors and limit exposure.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, with this being the fourth fire at the Moss Landing site since 2019, raising concerns about safety in large-scale battery storage facilities.