Moss Landing Power Plant Blaze Prompts Shelter-in-Place Orders and Highway 1 Closures

Monterey County emergency officials ordered shelter-in-place measures after a fire broke out at the Moss Landing Power Plant around 6:15 a.m. on Friday. The incident involves a structure that suffered extensive damage during the January 2025 Vistra battery fire, but authorities note one outlet blaze is smaller in scale and complexity. Fire crews, supported by the North County Fire Protection District, expect the fire to self-extinguish within 24 hours.

Local residents, schools in the North Monterey County School District, and motorists on Highway 1 have been advised to stay indoors and avoid the area. The federal Environmental Protection Agency has deployed air monitors, and drones are being used to gather real-time data on the fire's behavior. County officials plan a briefing later today to update the public on the situation.