Moss Landing, Monterey County, CA — A massive lithium-ion battery fire broke out at the world’s largest battery energy storage system (BESS) facility in Moss Landing on January 16, 2025, prompting widespread evacuations and raising serious questions about the safety of large-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS). The fire, which began at 3:00 PM, quickly escalated into what officials have called an unprecedented and catastrophic event.
Timeline of Events
The initial call about the fire was received by the North County Fire Protection District of Monterey County, whose small department consists of only three stations and 34 firefighters. Chief Joel Mendoza described receiving the call at about 3:00PM local time and arriving on site soon afterward. He described the situation as rapidly deteriorating, stating, “About 1.5 hours into the event, conditions of the fire changed drastically.” Despite previous incidents at the facility where fire suppression systems functioned effectively, Mendoza reported that this time, those systems were overwhelmed, leading to the fire consuming the entire building by 4:30 PM.

By 8:00 PM, the fire had reached its peak intensity, according to Chief Mendoza. Firefighters remained on scene battling the blaze through the entire night. As of 10:00 AM today (January 17, 2025), the fire had diminished to a much smaller fire but was still smoldering. Hazardous materials teams, emergency management personnel, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) were summoned to assist in containment and monitoring efforts.
Evacuations and Community Impact
District 2 County Supervisor Glenn Church announced that 7,600 acres had been evacuated, impacting approximately 1,200 residents. Church called the fire a “wake-up call for the industry,” adding, “If we’re going to be moving ahead with sustainable energy, we need a safe battery storage system in place.” Supervisor Church also indicated that thorough investigations will take place so situations like this cannot happen again
Sheriff Tina Nieto coordinated evacuation efforts and reached out to Santa Cruz authorities for support, noting that the fire’s trajectory posed a potential threat to neighboring communities. Residents were advised to stay informed through emergency alerts available on platforms such as Ready Monterey County and road closure updates via the Monterey County Public Works website.
Environmental and Health Concerns
The fire released hazardous gases, including hydrogen fluoride (HF), a potent and corrosive substance that poses significant health risks. HF is formed when the electrolyte in lithium-ion batteries, which contains lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF₆), decomposes at high temperatures. This decomposition occurs when the battery is exposed to excessive heat, causing the lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF₆) to break down and react with moisture (either from the air, from within the fire environment, or even from the water firefighters are using to extinguish the fire). In this reaction, fluoride ions (F⁻) combine with hydrogen to form toxic HF gas. The process can be summarized as:
LiPF₆ → heat → LiF + PF₅ (Lithium fluoride and phosphorus pentafluoride)
PF₅ + H₂O → HF + H₃PO₄ (Hydrogen fluoride and phosphoric acid)
Hydrogen fluoride itself is highly toxic and can severely damage tissues upon exposure even without inhalation. Inhalation of HF vapors can lead to severe respiratory distress, and when it comes into contact with skin, it can cause painful chemical burns. One of the most dangerous effects of HF exposure is its ability to rapidly bind to calcium in the body, leading to dangerous systemic health problems, such as calcium depletion, which can be fatal if not treated promptly. Despite initial air quality reports from a third-party contractor hired by Vistra Energy, which found no significant HF levels, comprehensive assessments are still underway to ensure all safety measures are in place.
Statements from Officials and Vistra Energy
Supervisor Glenn Church, visibly frustrated, emphasized the magnitude of the event, calling it “a Three Mile Island type of event for the [BESS] industry” and “the largest ever fire of this type that has been recorded.” Church relayed comments from residents who expressed concern over the facility’s proximity to environmentally sensitive areas, questioning prior assurances about the system’s safety protocols and why a battery facility like this would be built so close to such an environmentally sensitive area.

Vistra Energy representatives, including Senior Director of Community Affairs Brad Watson and Regional Vice President Pete Zigler, reiterated the company’s commitment to safety. “We have engaged third-party experts to thoroughly investigate air quality and system performance,” Zigler stated. Watson acknowledged the gravity of the situation, emphasizing Vistra’s dedication to learning from the incident.
Historical Context and Industry Implications
Despite its groundbreaking scale, the location has faced recurring fire challenges with this being the 4th call related to a fire situation at Moss Landing. A close call event occurred in October 2021 at the Phase I section of the Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility. This phase consists of a 300 MW/1,200 MWh system. The incident involved overheating of battery modules, leading to scorched battery racks and melted wires. Although fire crews initially responded to a report of a structure fire, no active fire was present. The overheating triggered sprinkler systems, which helped contain the situation without spreading to the Phase II section of the facility, a separate 100 MW system. Previous incidents, like the in October 2021, had raised critical concerns about the robustness of fire suppression systems, thermal management strategies, and the overall reliability of large-scale lithium-ion installations. As Glenn Church said, his concerns were met with assurance that the type of catastrophic fire that happened today could not occur. These events highlight the growing pains of integrating large scale battery energy storage projects into the grid, underscoring the importance of advancing safety measures as storage systems continue to expand globally.
The Moss Landing property is home to two separate battery energy storage facilities operated by different entities. The Elkhorn Battery Facility, managed by Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), contributes 182.5 MW/730 MWh of storage capacity to support grid stability and renewable integration. The larger Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility, operated by Vistra Energy, boasted a capacity of 750 MW/3,000 MWh before it succumbed to catastrophic failure, making it the world’s largest BESS installation. This facility also houses a significant portion of Tesla’s Mega Pack storage systems, further enhancing its grid support capacity. Despite being located on the same property, the facilities are independently operated and have distinct designs and management strategies. This co-location highlights the growing demand for battery storage in critical grid locations and the need for robust operational protocols as the industry navigates challenges tied to scale and safety.
Supervisor Church concluded, “This is really a lot more than a fire—it’s a wake-up call for the industry. We need robust systems that can safely store renewable energy without endangering lives and the environment.”
Next Steps
As investigations continue, local officials and industry leaders are expected to re-evaluate safety standards for large-scale battery installations. Residents and businesses are urged to remain cautious and follow updates from local authorities and emergency services.
For more information, visit the official live press conference recording on Facebook or read more about previous incidents in the Estero Bay News.
Featured image credit: Doug Duran, Bay Area News Group
Leave a Reply