- Firefighters responded to the Moss Landing Power Plant early Friday morning for a reported structure fire, according to CAL FIRE.
- The North Monterey County Fire District was dispatched to the facility shortly after 6:15 a.m., where crews found smoke and flames coming from the facility's north side.
- The fire was burning inside an existing structure that was significantly damaged during the January 2025 Vistra battery fire, involving 1,500 batteries that were still energized.
- Officials stated that Friday's fire was not comparable to the January 2025 fire in terms of scale or complexity, and they anticipate it could burn itself out over the next 24 hours.
- Shelter-in-place warnings are in effect for areas near the fire, with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency monitoring air quality in the area.
- The California Highway Patrol reported a hard closure of Dolan Road between Highway 1 and Via Tanques Road, while Highway 1 remains open.
- In January 2025, a major battery fire at Moss Landing Power Plant led to evacuations and a state of emergency.
- In July 2025, the EPA entered into an agreement with Vistra to remove damaged batteries from its property.
- On Sept. 8, 2025, the EPA announced it was starting the final phase of battery cleanup at the Vistra battery energy storage facility.
Firefighters responded to a fire at the Moss Landing battery storage plant early Friday morning, which had previously suffered significant damage during a January 2025 incident. The fire was reported shortly after 6:15 a.m., with crews arriving to find smoke and flames on the facility's north side.1237
The fire is burning inside a structure that was damaged in the earlier blaze involving 1,500 energized batteries. Officials stated that this fire is not comparable to the January 2025 incident in scale or complexity, and they anticipate it may burn itself out within 24 hours.4
A shelter-in-place order was issued for residents in nearby zones MRY-B047, MRY-B050, and MRY-B053, advising them to close windows and doors and shut off air systems. Monterey County fire officials confirmed that all personnel at the site have been accounted for, and no injuries have been reported.5
The incident is being managed under a unified command, including the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, and the county’s Emergency Operations Center has been activated. Air quality is being monitored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which has been overseeing the cleanup of damaged batteries from the previous fire.
Assemblymember Dawn Addis expressed frustration over the repeat incident, emphasizing the ongoing concerns regarding the cleanup process. Glenn Church of the Monterey County Board of Supervisors echoed this sentiment, stating that the fire is related to the ongoing cleanup efforts.
The California Highway Patrol has closed Dolan Road between Highway 1 and Via Tanques Road to facilitate emergency response efforts.
The EPA confirmed that air monitoring stations detected no hazardous gas during the incident, ensuring public safety remains a priority.
“The fire involves 1,500 still-energized batteries inside a structure that was significantly damaged in the January 2025 blaze, and officials say it may burn itself out within 24 hours. The EPA is monitoring air quality, and no injuries have been reported, though Highway 1 traffic is impacted.”
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