A state of emergency has been announced in Monterey County, California, following a substantial fire at a battery manufacturing facility.

The Monterey County Board of Supervisors confirmed the emergency during an urgent session to address the fire at Vistra Energy’s Moss Landing Power Plant, located in the unincorporated area of Moss Landing. This emergency declaration was initially made by the county’s administrative officer when the fire erupted a week prior, allowing the county to request assistance from state and federal authorities.

Fire officials reported that the blaze, which was permitted to burn out, was extinguished as of Tuesday. However, smaller hotspots at the site would still be monitored using drones, as stated by The Californian, which is part of the YSL News Network.

The fire, which occurred at a 300-megawatt lithium storage facility, caused extensive damage to the structure and its contents, according to local fire officials. This storage facility is part of a natural gas-powered electricity generation site managed by Texas-based Vistra Energy, which also operates a battery storage station under PG&E.

Evacuations for around 1,200 residents living near the plant were lifted on Friday evening, although some road closures are still active.

EPA and County Claim No Threat to Public Health

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) completed additional air quality monitoring near the Vistra Energy storage facility on Monday and stated that there was, “no risk to public health during the incident.”

The EPA initiated monitoring for hydrogen fluoride, a hazardous gas generated by lithium-ion battery fires, along with particulate matter on Saturday, according to the timeline provided by the county.

“We are fairly confident that emissions from the plant fire did not have an adverse impact; however, we did not analyze the specific chemicals involved due to the cost and extensive nature of such testing,” remarked Richard Stedman, the air pollution control officer from the Monterey Bay Air Resources District, during the meeting.

Residents near the incident site and from surrounding areas outside the evacuation zone have requested more testing of soil and water and have expressed concerns about health issues they have experienced, including respiratory problems and a strange metallic taste.

Community and Officials Voice Safety Concerns

During the Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, community members raised their worries and demanded clarity from county officials, urging that cleanup efforts be conducted properly to prevent hazardous chemicals from contaminating the local environment.

Ed Mitchell, representing a new community organization called the Moss Landing Fire Community Recovery Group, spoke to the board after 160 residents came together at the Prunedale Grange, a local volunteer organization in Monterey County, on Monday.

Mitchell acknowledged the efforts of first responders, emphasizing that while lithium batteries represent an exciting new technology, “when something goes wrong, it’s not just exciting; it’s frightening.”

Monterey County Supervisor Glenn Church expressed concern during the meeting, as reported by CBS News, stating that “this technology is advancing faster than the government’s ability to regulate it, and the industry’s ability to manage it.”

Church urged that the facility remain closed until an independent probe determines what caused the fire, CBS News has reported.