Is the Tesla battery factory on fire in Moss Landing? What we know as video emerges online

On January 17, 2025, multiple reports alleged Elon Musk’s Tesla battery factory in Monterey, California was on fire after first responders responded to a blaze at the Vistra Moss Landing power plant. Moss Landing, located on Cabrillo Highway in Monterey, California has been home to the world’s largest battery storage plant, the Vistra Corp. since 1950.

A fire was reported at the Vistra power plant on Thursday, January 16, 2025, prompting evacuations and closing roads in the area. Following this, multiple reports alleged Elon Musk’s Tesla Megapack battery substation also located in Moss Landing, known as the Elkhorn Battery, was on fire.

The Elkhorn Battery facility is located on 4.5 acres off Dolan Road and Highway 1 at the utility's substation. The facility was designed and constructed in partnership between Tesla and Pacific Gas and Electric Company. It became operational in 2022.

While it is located next to the Vistra battery facility, at the time of writing this article the Tesla battery facility is not on fire.

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Tesla battery factory is not on fire in Moss Landing

Reports of a Tesla battery facility fire first emerged online. A social media user shared a video of the fire writing:

“Possible Tesla Powerpack fire in Moss Landing Ca? @elonmusk @Tesla.”

Shortly after, a website, Daily Kos published a report titled “Tesla Battery fire at Moss Landing Power Plant” suggesting there was a fire at the Tesla battery substation located in the storage facility.

However, this is false. The fire was only reported at the Vistra battery facility. Responding to the Daily Kos report that emerged online, Journalist Sawyer Merritt wrote:

“This is completely misleading and not true @dailykos.”

He added the Battery facility on fire at Moss Landing, which houses a 3,000 MWh battery storage facility, is owned by Vistra Energy. The Tesla Megapack located next door was not on fire. He further noted:

“As of 8 PM PT tonight, that Tesla energy storage facility remains unaffected. This means the fire has no connection to Tesla or its Megapack product, making the headline below completely misleading.”

Another social media user alleged Elon Musk bought the Moss Landing Power Plant and failed to keep up with regulations triggering frequent fires. They wrote:

"People posting about Moss Landing fire as if you’re ever heard of the location before needs to STFU about it. You don’t know the area or the history of that power plant. Musk bought that plant & didn’t keep up with regulations. This isn’t the first fire either."

However, this is also false. Elon Musk did not buy the power plant. He only has a lithium-ion battery storage system facility at the power plant. The plans for which was approved by the California Public Utilities Commission in 2018.

The fire at a battery facility operated by a company called Vistra Energy prompted evacuation orders for areas south of the Elkhorn Slough, north of Molera Rd. and Monterey Dunes Way, and west of Castroville Blvd. and Elk Horn Rd. to the ocean for the following zones: MRY-B037, MRY-B047, MRY-B050, MRY-B051, MRY-B053, MRY-B058, MRY-B060.