The 300 MW first phase of Vistra Energy's Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility in California caught fire Thursday afternoon.

The dramatic fire at the the Vistra battery storage plant, one of the world’s largest, caused the evacuation of 1,200 people in Northern Monterey County, closed Highway 1 and sent large clouds of toxic black smoke billowing from at one of the world’s largest battery storage plants.

The massive fire at one of the world's largest lithium battery storage plants in Northern California has shaken a local community worried about possible long-term impacts and brought scrutiny to the emerging industry's safety practices.

Monterey County officials and Vistra Energy executives give press conference as the largest battery fire ever continues to smolder in Moss Landing.