Monterey County ratifies local emergency, demands answers after Moss Landing battery fire

The Monterey County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday received multi‑agency briefings on the Vistra Energy battery fire at the Moss Landing energy storage site and unanimously ratified a proclamation of local emergency as the county moves from response into recovery.

The move formalizes the county’s emergency posture after the lithium‑ion battery fire that began Thursday, Jan. 16, and prompted evacuations, road closures and air‑monitoring efforts. Board members directed staff to seek more information from the plant operators and to form a short‑term review group to recommend next steps.

The full incident briefing stressed public health and responder safety as the county’s top priorities. “Our priority continues to be the health and safety of the community, the responders who have served throughout the duration of this event and the environment,” said Kelsey Scanlon, Monterey County director of emergency management, in the boardroom briefing. Scanlon outlined a timeline that included the first report at about 3 p.m. on Jan. 16, an early activation of the county Emergency Operations Center and the arrival of U.S. EPA monitoring support the following day.

Monterey County and partner agencies described a rapid multi‑agency response. Sheriff’s Office and North County Fire Protection District commanders said initial firefighting and evacuation orders prioritized life safety and responder access. “The first engine arrived on scene in about 5 to 6 minutes,” Sheriff Nieto said in his remarks. Chief Mendoza (North County Fire) said small pockets of heat have been observed by drone and thermal imaging but that the structure appeared stable as of the board meeting.

Air monitoring and public‑health updates were a central focus. Rich Stedman of the Monterey Bay Air Resources District (MBARD) said MBARD’s network of regulatory monitors and sensors did not show an adverse PM2.5 impact from the plant fire at the sites where those monitors are located; he also said MBARD did not perform chemical speciation or routine hydrogen‑fluoride (HF) testing because those analyses are costly and were being handled by EPA and other teams. Rick Encarnacion, director of Monterey County Environmental Health, said the county has received raw EPA air monitoring data and that, based on early OEHHA (California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment) comparisons, recorded HF levels did not exceed OEHHA’s acute reference exposure level of 300 parts per billion at community monitoring locations. County Public Health Officer Dr. Ed Moreno reiterated public‑health guidance: people who smell smoke or feel ill should limit outdoor activities, stay indoors with windows and doors closed when advised, and seek medical care for worsening respiratory symptoms.

Vistra representatives thanked responders and said they are cooperating with investigators. “Air monitoring conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency and independent third party quality experts continues to demonstrate that the site and surrounding area is safe and does not pose a risk to the public,” Peter Ziegler, vice president of operations for Vistra, told the board. Vistra and other operators temporarily took their Moss Landing facilities offline, the company said; Vistra said crews continue to monitor the site and investigative work would begin as soon as it is safe.

Public comment at the meeting was lengthy and focused on gaps in information, trust in monitoring, potential contamination of soil, water and boats, the safety of livestock and impacts on tourism and small businesses. Speakers asked for independent testing, faster and clearer public alerts, funding to support affected businesses and residents, and a pause on further battery projects until the causes and implications of the fire are understood. Several residents reported respiratory symptoms and a metallic taste in the mouth after the event; others said they had not received evacuation notices.

After the briefing and public comment, the Board ratified the county administrative officer’s proclamation of a local emergency and passed motions directing county staff to seek written assurances from Vistra and PG&E and to form a short‑term review group. Supervisor Glenn Church moved that the county send a letter to Vistra and PG&E requesting that their battery facilities not be returned to service until the causes of the fire are determined and addressed and until each operator demonstrates compliance with SB 38 emergency planning requirements; Supervisor Luis Alejo seconded the motion. The board also approved an ad‑hoc review effort — chaired by Supervisors Church and Daniels — to assemble technical, regulatory and policy options and return preliminary recommendations within about 30 days.

The board and county staff described next steps that include continued air and environmental monitoring, coordination with state partners (including the California Department of Toxic Substances Control and the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment), and a timeline for structural assessments and eventual cleanup planning once engineering teams can safely access the site. County staff said raw EPA monitoring data will remain posted for public review and requested that residents with symptoms report them to Public Health so the county can compile health‑effect data.

The meeting closed with the board moving to a scheduled closed session; county counsel said there would be no reportable action afterward.

Votes at a glance

- Ratify local emergency proclamation: Motion moved by Supervisor Church; seconded by Supervisor Alejo. Motion carried (ayes recorded; motion approved). The board directed staff to continue emergency operations under the proclaimed emergency authority.

- Letter requesting operators remain offline until causes determined and SB 38 compliance shown: Motion moved by Supervisor Church; seconded by Supervisor Alejo. Motion carried. The letter requests that Vistra Energy Corporation and PG&E keep their battery facilities offline until causes of the Jan. 16 fire are identified and mitigations implemented and until required SB 38 emergency plans for a worst‑case scenario are provided and reviewed by county and state agencies.

- Ad hoc board review group and preliminary report: Motion moved by Supervisor Church; seconded by Supervisor Daniels. Motion carried. The board directed Supervisors Church and Daniels to convene technical and regulatory experts and report back with options and recommendations, with an initial preliminary report targeted within about one month.

What remains unanswered

County staff and board members said they will seek additional details on the fire’s origin and spread, the configuration and inventory of battery modules in the burned building, a timeline for site cleanup and soil/water testing protocols, and a clearer, independent approach to air and chemical monitoring. Residents also asked for rapid financial assistance options for impacted households, businesses and fishermen. The board asked Vistra and relevant state agencies for timely written responses to those questions.

Where to find information

County staff said incident updates, raw monitoring data and public advisories would remain posted on the county’s incident web page and on Monterey Bay Air Resources District and EPA public portals. Vistra representatives said they would continue to update a company response site established after the fire.