The Moss Landing fire at a lithium battery plant has poured smoke into the sky above Monterey County. The weather service forecasts wind to push it east.

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.

A fire broke out at one of the world's largest battery storage plants in California's Monterey County on Thursday.

A massive blaze erupted at one of the world’s largest lithium battery storage facilities in wildfire-ravaged California, forcing some 1,500 residents to evacuate their homes as toxic smoke filled the air.

The Moss Landing Power Plant that caught fire on Thursday flared back up on Friday. Monterey County officials held another news conference Friday after the fire started back up after 1:30 p.m. Flames and black smoke could be seen shooting through the roof from helicopters flying above.

A fire at a one of the world’s largest battery plants in California contained tens of thousands of lithium batteries that store power from renewable energy sources.

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

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

Moss Landing Power Plant burst into flames on Thursday, Jan. 16 More than 1,200 people have been told to evacuate after a fire broke out at a battery plant in California. On Thursday, Jan. 16, the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office confirmed on X (formerly known as Twitter) that evacuation orders had been issued following the blaze,

A major fire burning Friday at one of the world's largest battery storage plants in Northern California is sending up flames of toxic smoke, leading to the evacuation of 1,700 people and the closure of a major highway.

A fire at the world’s largest battery storage plant in Northern California smoldered Friday after sending plumes of toxic smoke into the atmosphere, leading to the evacuation of up to 1,500 people.