California Power Plant Fire: Evacuations Ordered

People living near a power plant in Central California were ordered to evacuate their homes Thursday night after a fire broke out at the facility, authorities said.

Fire crews are battling the blaze at the Moss Landing Power Plant, which serves as a battery storage facility, a Monterey County Sheriff's Office spokesman told CNN.

Sözcüconfirmed that the incident is not related to the Los Angeles-area wildfires and that efforts to bring the blaze under control are ongoing.

A spokesperson for the sheriff's office said the fire broke out at the facility around 15 p.m. and an evacuation was ordered at 00:18 p.m. because of hazardous materials and possible chemical leaks, but did not elaborate on what substances were causing concern. Monterey County SözcüAbout 1.500 people were affected by the evacuation orders, said Nicholas Pasculli.

Pasculli said the sheriff's office deployed drones to assess the severity of the situation and monitor air quality. Emergency services, including sheriff's deputies and medical teams, were fully mobilized.

Santa Cruz County Public Health officials advised residents to stay inside, keep windows and doors closed, turn off ventilation systems and limit outside exposure.