Daijiworld Media Network - San Francisco

San Francisco, Jan 18: A fire at the energy storage facility of the Moss Landing Power Plant near Monterey Bay, California, forced evacuations and prompted public safety alerts in the surrounding areas.

The Monterey County Sheriff's Office issued evacuation orders for parts of Moss Landing on Thursday afternoon after a blaze erupted at the site. Residents were advised to close windows and doors and turn off air systems as a precaution. Temporary shelters were set up at the Castroville Recreation Center, Xinhua news agency reported.

Public health officials in neighbouring Santa Cruz County issued similar warnings due to potential risks from the smoke.

The California Highway Patrol closed State Route 1 at Salinas Road and Merrit Street, with no immediate timeline for reopening.

According to Vistra Energy, the owner of the facility, a fire was detected in the 300-megawatt energy storage unit on Thursday afternoon. All personnel at the site were safely evacuated, and the company confirmed that the cause of the fire remains unknown. An investigation will commence once the situation is brought under control.

"Our top priority is the safety of the community and our personnel. Vistra deeply appreciates the assistance of local emergency responders," the company said in a statement.

The Moss Landing Power Plant includes a $400 million battery storage facility, which began operations in 2021, and a 1,020-megawatt natural gas power plant. The facility, located near Moss Landing Harbor, has been operational since 2022, according to the California Energy Commission.

Investigations into the fire's cause will begin once emergency crews extinguish the blaze. Local authorities have not provided additional details about the extent of the damage or the timeline for reopening affected areas.