Lava flow continues advance toward Pahoa

The June 27 lava flow advanced approximately 45 yards since 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Hawaii County Civil Defense reported at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday.

The flow, which entered a private residential property around 4:30 a.m. Tuesday and consumed a 10-foot-by-15-foot uninhabited wooden farm dwelling in an adjacent property around 7 a.m., is moving at an average rate of 10 to 15 yards per hour. The structure was being used for potting flowers and did not house any hazardous materials.

The flow is currently 370 yards from Pahoa Village Road, Civil Defense said. The road is now closed, however, area residents are being allowed access.

Between 40 and 50 households in the immediate downslope area of the flow path remain on notice to be ready to evacuate, according to Civil Defense. The advisory is not an immediate order to evacuate.

Some people have already chosen to voluntarily leave, including the couple who owned the property on the first residential property that the lava flow entered, Hawaii County Civil Defense Director Darryl Oliveira said Tuesday.

Smoke conditions were reported as moderate Tuesday evening. Tradewinds from the northeast were pushing the smoke in a south-southwest direction. Civil Defense said a vareity of materials, including tires, were currently burning.

As the flow approaches the Pahoa community, smoke conditions may increase in some areas and residents down wind that may be sensitive or have respiratory problems are advised to take necessary precautions and to remain indoors.

Civil Defense and public safety personnel will be operating in the area round the clock to maintain close observations of flow activity. Hawaii Fire Department personnel are also positioned at the flow front to douse any brush fires triggered by the flow and to protect homes that could be affected by other structures that come into direct contact with the flow.