A massive fire has erupted at one of the largest lithium battery factories in the world, located in Northern California, leading to the evacuation of 1,700 people over the past two days. Schools, businesses, and a major highway were closed due to the spread of toxic smoke from the blaze at the Mos Lending factory.
The fire began yesterday, but fire brigades have refrained from attempting to extinguish the flames, instead waiting for the fire to burn out on its own, according to local media Mercury News.
The fire worsened today but has not spread beyond the factory complex, according to a spokesperson from Monterey County.
Since late last night, dozens of evacuees have been relocated to temporary shelters, while others have sought refuge with friends or relatives, or found alternative accommodations, the spokesperson added.
Located 125 kilometers south of San Francisco, the Mos Lending factory is owned by the Texas-based company Vistra Energy. The facility houses tens of thousands of lithium batteries, which are difficult to extinguish once ignited.
“This is a disaster, that’s what this is,” said Glen Church, the district supervisor. However, he added that he does not expect the fire to spread beyond the concrete structure in which it started.
This is not the first time a fire has broken out at the same factory. Previous incidents occurred in 2021 and 2022, both caused by malfunctions in the fire suppression system, which led to overheating in some units of the plant, Mercury News reports.
The cause of the latest fire is currently unknown. Vistra Energy stated that upon noticing the flames, all personnel were safely evacuated from the building, and an investigation will begin once the fire is extinguished.
