The dramatic fire at the Vistra battery storage plant caused the evacuation of 1,200 people in Northern Monterey County, closed Highway 1 and sent large clouds of toxic black smoke billowing from one of the world’s largest battery storage plants.

MOSS LANDING — Flames and smoke in the community of Moss Landing and the Elkhorn Slough area in northern Monterey County largely were just smoldering late Friday morning following a major fire at a battery storage plant that brought evacuations, closing Highway 1.

MOSS LANDING — Highway 1 was closed and evacuations were ordered in the community of Moss Landing and the Elkhorn Slough area after a major fire erupted Thursday afternoon at a battery storage plant in Moss Landing in northern Monterey County.

Residents living near a power plant in Central California were ordered to evacuate Thursday night after a fire broke out at the facility.

Our citizens are very alarmed,” one Morro Bay resident said, after the fire along Monterey Bay forced 1,200 people to evacuate.

A local state of emergency was declared on Friday, and the county board of supervisors will look to ratify it at a special meeting on Tuesday.

A fire has been confirmed at the Vistra Power Plant in Moss Landing on Thursday which is forcing evacuations and closing roads in the area.

A fire broke out at a Central California power plant facility, forcing nearby residents to evacuate their homes on Thursday night, officials said.

Supervisor Glenn Church and State Assemblymember Dawn Addis are. calling for the Vistra Moss Landing Battery Energy Storage facility in Moss Landing to stay offline until officials

A plume of material released from the plant contained hydroflouride, a toxic gas, that is now being monitored by Monterey County.

The Highway 1 closure due to a fire at the Vistra Power Plant in Moss Landing is significantly affecting local businesses.