Evacuations near a large battery storage plant in Moss Landing, California were lifted after a fire broke out on Thursday. The plant, owned by Vistra Corp, contains thousands of lithium batteries used for storing electricity from renewable energy sources. The fire led to the evacuation of 1,200 to 1,500 residents in the area. No injuries or deaths were reported as a result of the fire, which was difficult to extinguish due to the nature of lithium batteries. The cause of the fire is still unknown, but investigations are ongoing. Air quality monitoring showed no imminent threat from toxic gases. Local schools and businesses were closed due to the fire. Officials stressed the importance of safe battery systems in sustainable energy infrastructure, and promised accountability for the incident. This is the fourth fire at the plant since 2019, with previous incidents caused by system malfunctions. Vistra Corp has apologized for the disruption caused by the fire and has arranged for an investigation into the cause. As the nation moves towards renewable energy sources, the safety of battery storage systems remains a key concern.
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More than 1,000 evacuations lifted following California battery storage plant fire
