CNN
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Residents living near a power plant in central California were ordered to evacuate their homes Thursday evening after a fire broke out at the facility, officials said.
Fire crews were battling the blaze at the Moss Landing Power Plant, which serves as a battery storage site, a Monterey County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson told CNN.
The incident is not related to wildfires in the Los Angeles area and efforts to contain the fire continue, the spokesperson confirmed.
The fire broke out around 3 p.m. and evacuation orders were issued around 6:30 p.m. due to concerns about hazardous materials and possible chemical releases, the office spokesperson said. sheriff, without specifying which materials raised concerns. About 1,500 people were affected by the evacuation orders, said Nicholas Pasculli, a Monterey County spokesman.
CNN has contacted the North Monterey County Fire Protection District for more details.
The sheriff’s office deployed drones to assess the severity of the situation and monitor air quality, Pasculli said. Emergency services, including sheriff’s deputies and medical teams, are fully mobilized.
Santa Cruz County public health officials advised residents to stay indoors, keep windows and doors closed, turn off ventilation systems and limit outdoor exposure. Santa Cruz is north of Monterey.
To assist evacuees, the Castroville Rec Center was designated as a temporary evacuation point, according to the sheriff’s office.
The National Weather Service Bay Area shared satellite images of the fire on X, highlighting the fire’s visible heat signatures.
Authorities have not determined when the evacuation order will be lifted.
The area is adjacent to major ecosystems including Moss Landing Wildlife Refuge, Elkhorn Slough State Marine Reserve, and Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve.