Residents ordered to evacuate after fire breaks out at power plant in Central California

People living near a Central California power plant were ordered to evacuate their homes Thursday night after a fire broke out at the plant, officials said.

Firefighters were battling the blaze at the Moss Landing Power Plant, which serves as a battery storage facility, a spokesperson for the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office told CNN.

The incident is not related to wildfires in the Los Angeles area, and efforts to contain the fire are ongoing, said a police spokesperson.

The fire broke out at the facility around 3:30 p.m., and orders were issued for people to leave at 6:30 p.m. due to concerns about hazardous materials and chemical leaks, said a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office without disclosing what causes the concern. About 1,500 were affected by evacuation orders, said Monterey County spokesman Nicholas Pasculli.

CNN reached out to the North County Fire Protection District of Monterey for details.

The sheriff’s office sent drones to assess the severity of the situation and monitor air quality, Pasculli said. Emergency services, including sheriff’s deputies and medical teams, are fully mobilized.

Santa Cruz County Public Health officials advised residents to stay indoors, keep windows and doors closed, turn off ventilation systems and reduce outdoor exposure. Santa Cruz is north of Monterey.

To assist evacuees, the Castroville Rec Center has been designated as a temporary evacuation site, according to the sheriff’s office.

The National Weather Service Bay Area shared satellite images of the fire in X, highlighting visible heat signatures from the fire.

Officials have not decided when the evacuation order will be lifted.

The area is close to major natural areas, including Moss Landing Wildlife Area, Elkhorn Slough State Marine Reserve and Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve.

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