A fire at a central California power plant has forced more than 2,000 residents to evacuate amid fears of hazardous materials. As crews battle the blaze, find out which areas were ordered to evacuate as a safety measure.

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

The natural gas-fueled plant, located on the Monterey County coast, serves as a battery storage site and is owned by Vistra Energy. Vistra, a Texas-based company, completed the latest phase of construction on its energy storage facility in 2023.

The project is part of California’s ongoing push to strengthen its power grid with clean energy solutions. According to reports, the facility has the capacity to store 750 megawatts of energy, which can power around 562,000 homes for up to four hours.

Looking ahead, California estimates it will require 52,000 megawatts of energy storage — three times the current amount — by 2045 to meet growing demand and achieve its net-zero emissions target.

It was confirmed in an email that the fire started in one of the plant’s lithium-ion batteries on Thursday afternoon around 3p.m., prompting immediate evacuation of on-site personnel.

“The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, but an investigation will begin once the fire is extinguished,” said Jenny Lyon, a spokesperson for Vistra.

By 6:30p.m., evacuation orders were issued for areas south of the Elkhorn Slough, north of Molera Road and Monterey Dunes Way, and west of Castroville Boulevard and Elkhorn Road, according to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office.

More than 2,000 residents were affected. Officials cited concerns over hazardous materials and potential chemical releases from the fire but did not provide details on the specific substances involved.

To assist displaced residents, the Castroville Recreation Center was designated as a temporary evacuation point. “Full Road Closures at: 1. Dolan Rd. and Castroville Blvd. 2. Highway 1 at Salinas Road 3. Highway 1 at Merritt St.” the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office announced on its X page.

Fire crews continued battling the blaze as emergency services, including sheriff’s deputies and medical teams, were fully mobilized. Drones were deployed to assess the fire’s severity and monitor air quality, said Monterey County Spokesperson Nicholas Pasculli.

Initially, public health officials in nearby Santa Cruz County advised residents to stay indoors, keep windows and doors closed, turn off ventilation systems, and avoid outdoor exposure due to air quality concerns.

The Moss Landing Power Plant and its adjoining lithium-ion battery facility are located in an area surrounded by sensitive ecosystems, including the Moss Landing Wildlife Area, Elkhorn Slough State Marine Reserve, and Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve.

The fire remains active, with no suppression efforts currently in progress. According to a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office, firefighters have determined that the best approach is to let the fire burn.

Drone footage showed that about 40% of the building containing lithium-ion batteries on the property had been destroyed by the flames, according to the spokesperson.

Officials are closely monitoring the situation to determine any potential environmental impact. Highway 1 was closed in the area, and authorities urged those living near the plant to secure their homes as a precaution.

The incident has no connection to the wildfires currently affecting the Los Angeles area, officials clarified. However, the severity of the fire at the power plant remains unknown, and containment efforts are still underway. As of now, there is no timeline for when evacuation orders will be lifted.