Fire Erupts at California Battery Plant, Shelter-in-place Ordered

WHO:

CBS News - North Monterey County Fire District, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Vistra Corporation, Pacific Gas & Electric Co., Asm. Dawn Addis (D-Morro Bay), Glenn Church of the Monterey County Board of Supervisors.

KSBW - North Monterey County Unified School District, Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, California Highway Patrol.

WHAT:

CBS News - A fire broke out at the Moss Landing Power Plant, with smoke and fire reported shortly after 6:15 a.m.

CBS News - Firefighters evacuated plant employees and stabilized the facility; no active fire was reported by Friday afternoon.

CBS News - The shelter-in-place order for nearby residents was lifted as of 4 p.m. on the same day.

CBS News - In January 2025, a lithium battery storage facility at the power plant caught fire, leading to the evacuation of 1,200 residents and a state of emergency.

KSBW - The current fire is burning inside a structure previously damaged in the January 2025 fire and involves batteries that were also damaged during that incident.

KSBW - No injuries have been reported, and all personnel at the site have been accounted for.

WHERE:

CBS News - Moss Landing Power Plant, located about 90 miles south of San Francisco.

KSBW - Areas near the fire, specifically zones MRY-B047, MRY-B050, and MRY-B053.

WHEN:

CBS News - The fire was reported shortly after 6:15 a.m. on a Friday.

CBS News - The shelter-in-place was lifted at 4 p.m. on the same day.

CBS News - The January 2025 fire incident occurred, leading to significant evacuations and a state of emergency.

WHY:

CBS News - Local leaders expressed concern about the repeat fire at Moss Landing, highlighting the volatility of lithium batteries.

KSBW - The fire is not comparable to the January 2025 fire in terms of scale or complexity.

HOW:

CBS News - The EPA activated an emergency response plan in response to the flare-up fire incident.

KSBW - The incident is being managed under a unified command that includes the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office.

(UPDATED September 19, 2026 07:04 UTC)

A fire broke out at the Moss Landing Power Plant early this morning, with smoke and flames reported shortly after 6:15 a.m., prompting the evacuation of plant employees and the activation of an emergency response plan by the EPA. Fortunately, no active fire was reported by the afternoon, and the shelter-in-place order for nearby residents was lifted at 4 p.m., with all personnel accounted for and no injuries reported. Local leaders are expressing concern over the repeat incident, as this fire involves batteries previously damaged in a January 2025 fire that led to significant evacuations and a state of emergency.