Moss Landing Power Plant Fire Triggers Shelter-in-Place Warnings, Highway 1 Impacted
Monterey County has issued shelter-in-place warnings after a blaze erupted Friday morning at the Moss Landing Power Plant.
According to a joint release from the county’s emergency warning center and the North County Fire Protection District, firefighters responded to the plant at Cabrillo Highway and Dolan Road just after 6:15 a.m., in response to a reported structure fire.
The statement also said that the fire is burning within an “existing structure that sustained significant damage” during the January 2025 Vistra battery fire. It said the batteries involved in Friday’s blaze sustained previous damage in that incident.
However, the current fire is “not comparable to the January 2025 fire in terms of its scale or complexity,” the statement clarifies. It said officials expect the fire to burn itself out over the next 24 hours.
Shelter-in-place orders have been issued for the surrounding areas and the North Monterey County School District, as the county’s emergency management department coordinates with local, state and federal agencies.
Traffic on Highway 1 in the Moss Landing area is impacted, according to the statement, and motorists have been asked to avoid the area to allow emergency crews access.
The joint release added that the federal Environmental Protection Agency has air monitors operating in the area, with fire personnel using drones to “assess conditions and gather information.”
The county plans to hold a briefing today to provide updates on the status of the blaze.
This is a developing story and will be updated.