Moss Landing Power Plant: Residents ordered to evacuate after fire breaks out at power plant in central California

CNN
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People living near a power plant in central California were ordered to evacuate their homes Thursday night after a fire broke out at the facility, officials said.

Firefighters battled the blaze at the Moss Landing Power Plant, which serves as a battery storage site, a spokesman for Monterey County Sheriff’s Office told CNN.

The incident is not related to the wildfires in the Los Angeles area, and efforts to contain the fire are underway, the spokesman confirmed.

The fire broke out at the facility around 3:00 p.m., and evacuation orders were issued at 6:30 p.m. due to concerns about hazardous materials and potential chemical spills, the sheriff’s spokesman said, without detailing which materials caused concern. About 1,500 were affected by the evacuation orders, Monterey County spokesman Nicholas Pasculli said.

CNN contacted the North County Fire Protection District of Monterey for details.

The sheriff’s office deployed drones to assess the severity of the situation and monitor air quality, Pasculli said. Emergency services, including sheriff’s deputies and medical teams, are fully mobilized.

Santa Cruz County public health officials advised residents to stay indoors, keep windows and doors closed, turn off ventilation systems and limit outdoor exposure. Santa Cruz is north of Monterey.

To assist evacuees, the Castroville Rec Center has been designated a temporary evacuation site, according to the sheriff’s office.

National Weather Service Bay Area shared satellite imagery of the fire at X, highlighting visible heat signatures from the flame.

Officials have not decided when the evacuation order will be lifted.

The area is adjacent to major ecosystems, including Moss Landing Wildlife Area, Elkhorn Slough State Marine Reserve, and Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve.