California: Residents ordered to evacuate as fire breaks out at world’s largest battery plant

Residents near the Moss Landing Power Plant in Central California were ordered to evacuate Thursday night following a fire at the facility, officials confirmed.

The Moss Landing Power Plant, known as the world’s largest battery storage site, caught fire around 3 p.m., prompting evacuation orders by 6:30 p.m. due to concerns about hazardous materials and potential chemical releases.

Monterey County Spokesperson Nicholas Pasculli stated that approximately 1,500 people were affected by the evacuation orders.

Firefighters worked through the night to contain the blaze, with drones deployed to assess the situation and monitor air quality, Pasculli said. Emergency teams, including sheriff’s deputies and medical personnel, were fully mobilised in response.

While the fire was unrelated to wildfires in the Los Angeles area, Santa Cruz County Public Health officials advised residents to take precautions, including staying indoors, closing windows and doors, and turning off ventilation systems. Santa Cruz lies north of Monterey.

Evacuees were directed to the Castroville Recreation Center, which has been set up as a temporary evacuation site.

The National Weather Service Bay Area provided satellite images showing visible heat signatures from the fire on X. However, officials have not announced when the evacuation order will be lifted.

The Moss Landing Power Plant is situated near critical ecosystems, including the Moss Landing Wildlife Area and Elkhorn Slough reserves.

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