Monterey County officials declared a local emergency Thursday after a fire at a power plant released large amounts of toxic smoke into the air.
During an emergency briefing Friday at a county Board of Supervisors meeting, officials said the fire was largely out, but that the plant was releasing large amounts of toxic material, including hydrogen fluoride, a toxic compound that was spreading northward from the plant by night. said county spokesman Nick Pasculli.
Solemnly declare:
January 17, 2025 7:32 amAn earlier version of this article stated the Moss Landing power plant fire was reported Friday afternoon. It was reported Thursday afternoon.
"Last night and early this morning, it appears that the plume has reached heights that may not endanger humans, but it's something that we're constantly monitoring and something that we'll be paying close attention to throughout the day as it continues," Pascully said.
On Friday morning, officials urged residents near the Moss Landing power plant to leave their homes if they live in an evacuation zone. Sheriff Tina Nieto advised others living outside evacuation zones to close their windows and turn off their air conditioners.
The county is working with plant operator Vistra Energy and others to monitor the situation.
Vistra Energy confirmed in a statement that plant staff called Northern Monterey County Fire Protection District firefighters after "a fire broke out at the 300-megawatt Phase 1 energy storage facility on site at the Moss Landing power plant."
There have been no reports of any injuries.
"Our top priority is the safety of our community and people, and Vistra is deeply grateful for the continued assistance of local emergency responders," a company spokesperson said. "The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, but an investigation will begin once the fire is extinguished."
Crews from the North County Fire Protection District responded to the fire, according to an alert shared by Monterey County.
The Monterey County Sheriff's Office responded to Moss Landing, south of Elkhorn Slough, at Molera Road and Monterey Dunes Road around 6:30 p.m. Way and west of Castroville Boulevard and Elkhorn Road.
Earlier, Monterey County officials issued a warning to residents near the power plant to keep doors and windows closed and not to run air conditioners.
The power plant is a natural gas-fired power plant near the port of Moss Landing in unincorporated Monterey County. The plant also houses a storage site for lithium-ion batteries, which can release toxic gases into the air if ignited.
In September 2022, a Tesla Megapack battery caught fire in an energy storage facility at a power plant.
The cause of Thursday's fire was not immediately clear.
There are closures at Dolan Road and Castroville Boulevard, Highway 1 at Salinas Road and Highway 1 at Merritt Street. The North County Recreation Center, located at 11261 Crane Street in Castroville, has been set up as an evacuation site.