1,500 batteries burned during the last Moss Landing fire; Shelter-in-Place Issued Firefighters responded to the Moss Landing Power Plant early Friday morning for a reported structure fire, according to CAL FIRE. The Northern Monterey County Fire District was dispatched to the facility shortly after 6:15 a.m. Crews arrived to find smoke and flames coming from the north side of the facility. The fire was burning inside an existing structure that suffered significant damage during the Vistra battery fire in January 2025. It involved 1,500 batteries that were still energized. Officials said Friday’s fire was not comparable to the one in January 2025 in terms of scale or complexity. Based on current conditions, they anticipate the fire could extinguish itself within the next 24 hours. Officials said everyone working at the location has been accounted for and no injuries have been reported. The incident is being handled under a unified command that includes the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office. The county’s Emergency Operations Center has also been activated. Shelter-in-place warnings are in effect for areas near the fire. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is monitoring air quality in the area. KSBW 8 reached out to the EPA and Vistra Energy for additional information but did not receive a response. CAL FIRE also reported an impact to traffic on Highway 1 in the Moss Landing area and asked drivers to avoid the area and allow emergency crews access. The California Highway Patrol said Dolan Road is under a strict closure between Highway 1 and Via Tanques Road. Highway 1 itself remains open, according to the CHP. The county’s emergency system lists Zone MRY-B050 under “Shelter in Place,” and the reason is identified as the “Moss Landing Power Plant Fire to Shelter in Place.” The North Monterey County Unified School District initially issued a shelter-in-place order Friday morning. The district later said the order had been lifted. The district said all schools and activities would continue as scheduled. It also said air quality readings at schools were in the normal range and that officials had not identified any air quality issues at that time. The Moss Landing site includes large battery storage facilities. One of the facilities, operated by Vistra Energy, was the site of a major battery fire in January 2025. Cleanup efforts have continued since then. Residents in the affected area are asked to: • Stay indoors • Close all doors and windows • Turn off fans, air conditioners and ventilation systems that bring outside air inside • Bring pets inside • Avoid the affected area • Keep roads clear for emergency vehicles • Continue to monitor official alerts from Monterey County as conditions may change. Weather Conditions Winds are currently very light at the surface, and no wind was reported at the nearest reliable station in Watsonville, where temperatures are in the mid-60s under sunny skies. At 5,000 feet, winds are expected to remain steady from the north-northeast throughout the day. Any smoke could be pushed toward the Monterey Peninsula. Addemymber Dawn Addis testified Friday about the ongoing fire, saying, “I am frustrated and deeply concerned about the new fire at Moss Landing. Early this morning I received initial information about the Moss Landing battery energy storage fire. Although the initial cleanup and battery removal, under the supervision of the federal EPA, was completed two weeks ago, 1,500 hard-to-reach batteries remain in the damaged area of the facility. This incident is ongoing and we do not yet know all the details. I ask “We strongly encourage surrounding communities to follow all safety instructions from emergency services.” Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.
