New fire reported at Moss Landing battery storage plant in California

On the morning of 18 September 2026, Monterey County fire officials reported a new fire at the Moss Landing battery power storage plant on Monterey Bay, beside Highway 1. The county's North County Fire Protection District issued an alert at 7:01 a.m. saying it was responding to a fire at the Moss Landing Power Plant. Out of an abundance of caution the district urged nearby residents to close windows and doors, shut off air systems until further notice, and avoid the area so that emergency vehicles could respond. The nearby Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve announced that it had closed. The site is a former electric power plant that became one of the world's largest battery storage sites, operated by Texas based Vistra, and it suffered a major fire in January 2025 that prompted an investigation by the governor's office. This entry is based on early reporting only. The cause, scale, duration and any injuries or damage were not reported at the time of publication.

Not reported.

1. Sites that have already suffered a major thermal event deserve heightened monitoring and clear arrangements for rapid public alerting if a further event occurs.
2. Local fire services near large battery storage sites benefit from pre-agreed precautionary advisories, such as closing windows and shutting off air handling, that can be issued within minutes.
3. Repeat events at the same site raise the value of prompt, transparent communication on cause and status to the community and to regulators. Lessons are generic pending fuller reporting.

mercurynews.com/2026/09/18/new-fire-erupts-at-moss-landing-battery-power...