A fire erupted at one of the world's largest lithium storage facilities on the coast of Central California on Jan. 16, prompting authorities to evacuate surrounding residents and close a local highway in both directions as residents were told to shelter in place to avoid toxic fumes.
The Vistra Power Plant in Monterey County caught fire around 3 p.m. local time.
County officials ordered evacuations about an hour after the fire started and residents were told to shelter in place as crews responded to the blaze.
The county sheriff’s office issued evacuation orders for the areas around the facility, including areas south of Elkhorn Slough, north of Molera Road, and Monterey Dunes Way, and west of Castroville Boulevard and Elkhorn Road.
The public was also asked to stay out of the area because of the fire.
Coastal Highway 1 was closed in both directions. Other road closures included Dolan Road and Castroville Boulevard, Highway 1 at Salina Road, and Highway 1 at Merritt Street.
The plant, which supplies energy to Pacific Gas & Electric, is located about 95 miles south of San Francisco.
The massive lithium battery farm, located on a 4.5-acre site in Moss Landing.
Even after extinguishing a lithium-ion battery fire, there is a risk of reignition, according to FEMA.
Lithium battery fires in California last August closed one Southern California freeway for two days, stranding motorists, after a truck carrying the batteries caught fire.
The Moss Landing fire erupted as the state continued to get a handle on two deadly and destructive fires still burning in Southern California Thursday.