When fires erupted at the Vistra Energy Storage Facility located at Moss Landing Power Plant in January and February of 2025, it released toxic gases and heavy metals into the air. These fumes harmed many of the area’s residents, causing a number of health conditions and long-term effects. As such, it is crucial to be aware of battery fumes symptoms and what to watch for.
The legal teams at Danko Meredith and Fiore Achermann understand the concerns you and your family have in the wake of the power plant fires. We are here to ensure you do not have to bear the burden of your losses alone, and we take a stance to advocate and fight for you. We help you hold the Vistra Energy Storage Facility responsible for not taking better safety precautions, and work diligently to secure maximum compensation so you can begin to rebuild your life.
Why Battery Fumes Are So Dangerous to Inhale
There are multiple metals that go into the production of lithium-ion batteries that, when released, are hazardous to human health. Most lithium batteries are primarily made up of a combination of lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, aluminum, and lead. These metals are integral to how the battery itself functions, but they can also be found in the coatings. However, during a fire, these metals get released into the air, along with the gases they create during chemical reactions.
For lithium batteries to release their contents, they must first suffer some kind of damage or undergo a process called thermal runaway. Thermal runaway was the cause of the fire at the Vistra Energy Storage Facility in Moss Landing, CA, and occurs when a battery generates more heat than it can discharge, and then begins a cycle of chemical reactions and heat generation until it reaches a breaking point and ignites. These fires often sustain extreme temperatures.
The heat generated from lithium batteries during a fire makes them hard to extinguish. The fumes from the batteries release toxic gases and heavy metals into the air that are highly dangerous for humans to inhale or come in contact with. Inhaling these fumes or suffering skin contact with these gases can be incredibly harmful and cause serious health conditions.
Gases Emitted in Lithium Battery Fumes During a Fire and the Symptoms They Cause
As discussed above, lithium batteries release a significant amount of gases during a fire. Inhaling these gases can be detrimental to human health. While some may cause irritation at low levels, others can be far more toxic at the same level. The vapor emissions can lead to symptoms rapidly and even have a long-term impact on health. Below is a deeper look into the toxic and flammable compounds emitted from lithium-ion batteries during thermal runaway.
Hydrogen Fluoride
The compound hydrogen fluoride is highly toxic whether it is found in gas form or in water. It can permeate the skin and soft tissue to cause cell damage and affect various parts of the body. Most notably, it causes respiratory, eye, and skin irritation. Hydrogen Fluoride can burn the inside of the lungs, throat, mouth, and nose, and has similar effects on skin and eye tissue. This chemical can also cause long-term health conditions or be fatal.
Hydrogen Chloride
The gas emitted by hydrogen chloride can cause serious irritation, burns, and other physical damage to the body. Inhaling this chemical affects the respiratory system by causing irritation to the larynx, nose, and throat, which can cause coughing or choking. It can also burn the skin and eyes upon contact. Hydrogen chloride is a gas with a light yellow color and an odor, and has corrosive properties.
Hydrogen Cyanide
Another chemical that can be emitted in lithium battery fumes is hydrogen cyanide. The gases act as an asphyxiant and affect the body’s oxygen supply and slow down systems. The chemical is fast acting and affects the respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological systems, among many other functions, if inhaled. It can also cause eye, skin, and GI irritation. Depending on the level of toxicity, hydrogen cyanide can cause the body to quickly shut down and lead to death.
Carbon Monoxide
Lithium batteries can emit carbon monoxide during a fire. This is a gas that many people are familiar with. It can easily go undetected due to its colorless and odorless qualities. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can include nausea and vomiting, headaches, confusion, and chest pain. It can also result in unconsciousness and death if too much of the gas is inhaled.
Carbon Dioxide
While we exhale carbon dioxide every day, inhaling this gas can cause serious issues for the respiratory and cardiovascular system. Exposure symptoms include headaches, dizziness, sweating, breathing challenges, rapid heart rate, convulsions, and other symptoms. Carbon dioxide is highly reactive with other metals found in lithium batteries, and is colorless and odorless, making it difficult to detect.
Nitrogen Dioxide
Acting as an accelerant, nitrogen dioxide speeds up combustion, which can increase the threat caused by thermal runaway in lithium batteries. The gas that it emits targets the respiratory system by irritating the nose, throat, and ability to breathe. It also affects the cardiovascular system by causing chest pain, pulmonary edema, and heart attacks. The eyes are also vulnerable to nitrogen dioxide and suffer varying degrees of irritation. The gas can also be fatal.
Sulfur Dioxide
When sulfur dioxide gas is emitted, it has a strong odor but no color. This chemical causes skin and eye irritation when inhaled or exposed to the gas. In addition to irritation of these sensitive tissues, other symptoms include coughing and choking, nasal mucus discharge, and bronchial problems.
The Long-Term Effects of Lithium-Ion Battery Fumes on Health
Because of the severity of the gases released from a lithium battery in thermal runaway, many of the symptoms individuals suffer have long-term effects on their health. Burn injuries are likely to lead to a buildup of scar tissue and/or cause disfigurement. Similarly, tissue damage to the eyes or skin may cause lasting conditions like vision problems, blindness, dermatitis, and other issues.
While it can be possible to minimize the damage caused by these chemicals on the body at times, injuries to the respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological systems are often very serious and can cause lifelong impacts. These injuries often leave behind some irreversible damage that may make even basic functions difficult. As a byproduct of the inhalation injuries from battery fume exposure, an individual may experience a significantly decreased quality of life.
When to See a Doctor About Potential Exposure to Harmful Battery Fumes
Symptoms from lithium battery fumes inhalation may begin to manifest in minutes, depending on the type of chemicals involved. Whether you begin noticing eye or skin irritation, or you have difficulty breathing or experience chest pain, it is critical to seek medical care immediately. Receiving clean oxygen and skilled treatment from medical professionals is essential to not enduring additional damage and pain from the chemicals you were exposed to.
It is also important to talk with your doctor about a treatment plan moving forward as you begin to heal from your injuries. You may experience a number of residual effects that you will have to make accommodations for, and may need ongoing care to support your health. These directions should be followed closely for the best results. You should also keep all records of expenses and test results to use when you file a lawsuit against the Vistra Energy Storage Facility.
What to Do If You Inhale Lithium-Ion Battery Fumes
If you are exposed to fumes caused by lithium-ion batteries, you should first and foremost seek out immediate medical care. However, there are also other steps you can take to respond quickly while you wait for medical care after calling 911.
Depending on your situation, these steps may include doing the following:
- If possible, find somewhere safe that has clean air so you can remove yourself from exposure as much as possible.
- Remove articles of clothing to avoid continued exposure
- Wash your body and rinse your eyes to carefully remove as much of the contaminants as you can
These gases and chemicals can create symptoms in a very short time and escalate quickly. Avoid delays in getting emergency care, because every minute counts in ensuring your health. Additionally, treatments should be administered by a doctor to ensure the proper antidote, dosage, and handling practices. Exposure to certain chemicals can be transferred from one person to another, so it is essential that a doctor follows the proper protocols.
The Latest Updates About the Vistra Energy Facility at Moss Landing Power Plant Fires
At the beginning of 2025, fires broke out a month apart from one another at the Vistra Energy Storage Facility at Moss Landing Power Point. The first took place on January 16 when a large number of lithium batteries overheated and caught fire. Fire suppression systems could not contain the inferno, which lasted for more than 24 hours. In February, the same building reignited when batteries that had not yet been disconnected overheated once again.
Officials say this type of event should never have happened, given the safety features the building had. However, storage methods, lack of ventilation, poor safety monitoring, or overcharging/overdischarging are ways Vistra contributed to the battery fires. The plant has since been taken offline, and cleanup efforts and environmental testing by Monterey County and other organizations are underway.
In response to these events and impacted residents, Danko Meredith and Fiore Achermann filed the Moss Landing fire lawsuit in March of 2025 to hold the company accountable for insufficient practices and procedures that contributed to hazardous conditions for the community. Our teams are also pursuing damages for individuals who suffered the impact of these fires.
Soil and Water Testing are Ongoing After the Moss Landing Power Plant
Residents of Moss Landing, CA continue to express frustration and concerns about the impact of these fires on the soil, air, and water supplies, and agriculture and livestock. They worry about the safety of these environmental resources and wonder how much the chemicals, ash, and heavy metals threaten the area. Officials from Monterey County began testing and monitoring the area immediately after the first fire in order to create a human health risk assessment.
While efforts are still ongoing, initial soil, air, and water test results have shown the presence of various metals and compounds at low levels throughout the area. However, many of these levels were found to be below any dangerous threshold for human consumption or interaction. With the amount of toxic gases emitted during the fire, and testing still being completed, questions still abound on what these fires mean for the future of Moss Landing and the region.
Potential Impact to Homes and Businesses in the Wake of the Moss Landing Power Plant Fires
The economic impact on local businesses and homes is also a significant concern in the area. This worry is especially prevalent for those located closest to the Moss Landing Power Plant, especially if these events continue to happen. Businesses lost business during the evacuations and experienced lower-than-usual customer traffic once the area reopened. Homeowners are concerned that their homes will decrease in value with such environmental hazards.
Both parties are anxious about what the future holds and are looking for answers. It may be too soon to get a clear picture of the ramifications the fire has had on real estate and business. While past issues at the nearby powerplant have not had negative effects on the housing market or local economy, locals may still feel some impact as they decontaminate the area and disclose the environmental issues to sellers.
Recovering Compensation After the Moss Landing Power Plant Fires
The Vistra Energy Storage Facility at Moss Landing Power Point was the cause of a significant amount of loss in the nearby communities during the fires. Families were forced to evacuate their homes, seek unexpected medical care for battery fume inhalation injuries, and lost work due to the evacuation orders. For many individuals, this created a financial burden that they were unprepared for.
The lawsuit against the power plant seeks to help individuals affected by the fires and secure them the compensation they need to cover their unexpected costs. A settlement can help cover several types of losses, so individuals have the support and resources they need to begin to move forward in the aftermath of the fires. Compensation can help cover the following:
- Medical care, ongoing treatments, and equipment are needed due to smoke and chemical exposure
- Lost wages from having to close businesses, or being unable to work due to a closed business, or medical care
- Damage to property and the costs of decontamination efforts
- Travel, lodging, and food accommodations from being ordered to evacuate the area
- Pain, suffering, and emotional and mental distress suffered for what you experienced and lost
A lawyer can help you determine how much you may be entitled to receive in a settlement claim. They will help you evaluate your losses and various expenses and determine how much your case is worth. They can also prepare you for what the estimated timeline of a personal injury lawsuit can be, as they guide you through the process. Each case is different, and the time involved and value of a settlement can vary significantly.
Danko Meredith and Fiore Achermann Are Here to Help People in Moss Landing
To address the needs of Moss Landing and Monterey County residents, the law firms of Fiore Achermann and Danko Meredith have joined forces. We are here to hold Vistra Corp accountable for the repercussions of the Vistra Energy Storage Facility fire at Moss Landing Power Plant.
This strategic partnership reunites attorneys Jennifer Fiore, Mike Danko, and Kristine Keala Meredith. These lawyers first worked together representing clients against PG&E in the San Bruno pipeline explosion.
The legal teams at Fiore Achermann and Danko Meredith have extensive experience in holding negligent utility companies and business interests accountable.
- Danko Meredith’s track record includes prosecuting toxic torts such as the Porter Ranch gas leak. Our law firm has also secured well over $1.5 billion in settlements for utility fire victims across California, which includes the Camp Fire and the Dixie Fire.
- Fiore Achermann has found success in many high-profile cases, including the Conception Boat Fire (involving lithium-ion batteries) and the Ghost Ship warehouse fire.
Together, Fiore Achermann and Danko Meredith are committed to providing unparalleled legal representation for those affected by the lithium-ion battery fires at Moss Landing Power Plant. We will ensure that Vistra Corp and any other responsible parties are held accountable and that justice is served.
Affected by the Moss Landing Power Plant Fires? Contact Our Lawyers Today
If you are ready to get started in your pursuit of justice against the Moss Landing Power Plant, contact us today to schedule a free, confidential consultation with our team. We will provide you with exceptional service, experienced counsel, and the support and advocacy you need to recover what you suffered and lost during the fires.