Energy

Fire at Vistra’s California Battery Site Prompts Evacuations

Battery fire suppressant system failed, officials say
Company’s shares drop after closing at a record Thursday

A fire burns at Vistra’s battery storage facility in Moss Landing, California, on Jan. 17.Photographer: Nic Coury/Bloomberg

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By Naureen S Malik and Linus Chua

January 17, 2025 at 4:43 AM UTC

Updated on

January 17, 2025 at 8:10 PM UTC

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A fire broke out at Vistra Corp.’s Moss Landing complex in California, one of the world’s biggest battery storage facilities, prompting evacuations. Local officials said a fire suppressant system failed.

Every rack of batteries at the facility has a fire suppressant system fed by an on-site system, and this system failed, Chief Joel Mendoza with the North County Fire District, said during a press briefing Friday. The county declared a local emergency.