Moss Landing Fire Near Monterey: Shelter-in-Place Ordered as Battery Facility Burns
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A structure fire has broken out at the Moss Landing Power Plant, and Monterey County residents are being told to shelter in place right now. The Monterey County Sheriff's Office confirmed the order, according to early reports from KSBW, ABC7, and CBS News. If you're in the area, stay inside, close your windows, and turn off your HVAC.
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The fire is burning near a battery storage facility at the plant. Exactly what sparked it hasn't been confirmed yet, and it's not clear how large the blaze is or whether anyone has been hurt. This is a fast-moving situation and details are still coming in.
Moss Landing, on the Monterey Bay coastline between Santa Cruz and Monterey, is home to one of the largest battery energy storage facilities in the world. A fire at that kind of site can release toxic smoke, which is almost certainly why officials moved quickly to issue the shelter-in-place order.
What You Should Do Right Now
If you're in Monterey County near Moss Landing, follow the shelter-in-place order from the Sheriff's Office. Get inside a building, seal gaps around doors and windows if you can, and shut off any system that pulls in outside air. Avoid the area entirely if you don't need to be there.
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What We Don't Know Yet
Cause of the fire, the extent of the damage, any injuries, and which specific zones are covered by the shelter-in-place order have not been confirmed in early reports. CBS News notes this appears to be a new fire at the plant, suggesting there may have been a prior incident, but no additional details on that are available yet.
This Story Is Developing
CALWIRE is monitoring this story as it breaks. Details including the scope of the shelter-in-place order, fire conditions, and any injuries may change rapidly. Check back for updates and follow the Monterey County Sheriff's Office for official guidance.