A fire at the world’s largest battery storage facility in Northern California continued to smolder on Friday, following its eruption the previous day, which released toxic smoke and forced the evacuation of up to 1,500 residents. The incident also raised alarms for the emerging battery storage industry.
The blaze occurred at the Vistra Energy lithium battery plant in Moss Landing, California. Although it initially produced large flames and substantial smoke, the fire had significantly subsided by Friday, according to Fire Chief Joel Mendoza of the North County Fire Protection District of Monterey County. Based in Texas, Vistra Energy operates the plant.
“There’s minimal, if any, smoke coming from the building,” Mendoza stated, adding that crews were allowing the fire to burn itself out due to the challenges of extinguishing lithium-ion battery fires, which burn intensely and release toxic fumes.
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While no injuries were reported, local residents expressed concerns about potential hazardous gases in the air.
The aftermath of the fire, located about 100 miles (160 kilometers) south of San Francisco, underscores the challenges facing the battery storage industry. “This is more than just a fire; it’s a wake-up call for the industry,” said Monterey County Supervisor Glenn Church. “If we aim to advance sustainable energy, we must ensure safe battery systems.”
Battery storage is vital for supplying clean electricity when renewable sources like solar and wind are unavailable. However, most batteries rely on lithium, which is prone to "thermal runaway"—a phenomenon where overheating leads to intense fires and the release of harmful gases.
The fire did not spread beyond the facility, Monterey County spokesperson Nicholas Pasculli confirmed. Evacuation orders for 1,200 to 1,500 residents were lifted Friday evening after authorities determined there was no immediate threat to human health. However, residents were advised to keep windows closed and turn off air conditioning.
“This is a disaster,” Supervisor Glenn Church told KSBW-TV, highlighting the severity of the situation.
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Vistra’s senior director of community affairs, Brad Watson, said the Environmental Protection Agency is monitoring air quality, and an independent consultant has been hired to assess pollution in nearby areas. Results will be shared once available.
Kelsey Scanlon, Monterey County’s Emergency Management Director, warned about the possible release of hydrogen fluoride gas during the fire. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that exposure to hydrogen fluoride can cause severe irritation and even death in high concentrations.
During an emergency meeting of the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, residents voiced frustration over the response to the fire. “It seems the fire department lacked the necessary retardants and had to let the fire burn, exposing residents, including those in neighboring areas like Watsonville,” said resident Silvia Morales.
Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto stated that air quality monitoring systems had not detected any hazardous gases.
Watson acknowledged past incidents at the Moss Landing facility in 2021 and 2022 caused by water exposure to batteries, as well as a separate event at PG&E’s adjacent Elkhorn battery plant in 2022.
Lithium batteries play a key role in stabilizing the power grid and reducing dependence on fossil fuels. California, a leader in battery storage, has over 11 gigawatts of utility-scale storage—enough to meet nearly half the state’s main grid demand for four hours daily.
While experts affirm that lithium batteries are crucial for reducing carbon emissions, they acknowledge significant fire risks when damaged or overheated. “This incident is unlikely to slow the national trend of expanding grid-scale battery use,” said Timothy Fox, managing director of ClearView Energy Partners.
The cause of the fire remains unknown. Vistra stated that the site was evacuated safely, and an investigation will begin once the fire is fully extinguished. “Our priority is the safety of the community and our personnel,” said Jenny Lyon, a Vistra spokesperson.
Some experts, like Jodie Lutkenhaus of Texas A&M University, emphasize the need for safer battery technologies. Alternative options, such as water-based and redox flow batteries, are under development but not yet commercially viable. Lithium iron phosphate batteries offer greater stability but still carry some fire risks.
“As batteries scale in size, they become inherently dangerous and more prone to catching fire,” said Yiguang Ju, an engineering professor at Princeton University.