Fire Response Timeline for Moss Landing Vistra Battery Incident
In early January 2025, a battery fire broke out at Vistra's energy storage facility in Moss Landing, California. The cause of the fire was an improperly installed vent shield, which allowed rainwater to enter and short-circuit the lithium-ion batteries [2].
Since then, multiple parties have been involved in investigating the cause and managing the aftermath. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been providing on-site technical assistance, overseeing battery removal, disposal, and cleanup efforts, including preliminary building stabilization and safe battery de-energizing and packaging for transport [4][5].
Local fire authorities, specifically the North Monterey County Fire Protection District, initially responded to the fire but chose to let it burn out due to the risks involved with lithium battery fires [1][3]. The Monterey County Board of Supervisors declared a local emergency, and the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has been requested by state assembly members to investigate [3].
Community groups, such as "Never Again Moss Landing," have independently conducted environmental sampling and monitoring to identify contaminant levels resulting from the fire [3].
Preliminary building stabilization work has been performed in key areas of the "Moss Landing 300" building. The State of California requested the EPA to lead the oversight of Vistra's battery removal work on February 22, 2025. Nine air monitoring locations were set up at and around the site on January 17, 2025 [5].
Vistra confirmed it would voluntarily do the response on January 22, 2025, and the EPA began providing technical assistance for the battery removal process and reviewing Vistra's plans for battery removal. On January 20, 2025, after the smoke subsided, EPA consulted with Monterey County and transferred air monitoring stations to Vistra [5].
Equipment such as cranes has arrived at the site. The monitors were looking for mineral acid gases (like hydrogen fluoride) and particulates. Battery delinking began on February 22, 2025, and was completed on March 13, 2025 [5].
Negotiations for the agreement outlining Vistra's obligations and the EPA's expectations for the battery removal process took place from March to July, 2025. The battery removal process agreement between EPA and Vistra was reached on July 17, 2025.
A "surgical" removal of certain portions of the burned building has started. The cause of the fire is still under investigation by Vistra and the battery manufacturer [1].
References:
- California Energy Storage Alliance
- Energy Storage News
- Monterey Herald
- North Monterey County Fire Protection District
- EPA Press Release
- The EPA has been overseeing the battery removal, disposal, and cleanup efforts at Moss Landing, California's energy storage facility, following a battery fire caused by an improperly installed vent shield in January 2025.
- Environmental agencies, such as the EPA, and local authorities like the North Monterey County Fire Protection District have been involved in managing the aftermath of the Moss Landing battery fire, which occurred on industry-related land.
- The battery fire at the Vistra facility in Moss Landing has led to environmental concerns, prompting community groups to conduct independent environmental sampling and monitoring. Climate-change and environmental-science experts have become crucial in assessing the impact of the incident on the local environment.
- In the wake of the Moss Landing battery fire, finance and energy sectors have also been affected, with the California Public Utilities Commission investigating and negotiations taking place between Vistra and the EPA to outline Vistra's obligations and the EPA's expectations for the battery removal process, suggesting a need for improved safety measures in the energy storage industry.
