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Lava pushed through the fence surrounding the Pahoa transfer station just before noon Tuesday, according to Hawaiian Volcano Observatory officials. (Hawaiian Volcano Observatory)
COURTESY HAWAII COUNTY
Hawaii County Civil Defense maps show the leading edges of the lava flow as of 11 a.m. Tuesday.
A flow had inflated Tuesday up to the level of the Pahoa transfer station fence. (Hawaii Volcano Observatory)
An HVO geologist examined the margin of the lobe that destroyed a residence on Monday. (Hawaii Volcano Observatory)
Lava from Kilauea volcano pushed through a fence surrounding Pahoa’s $3.5 million waste and recycling center just before noon Tuesday, one day after it burned a nearby home.
The lava forced its way through the fence along the southwest corner of the transfer station, then flowed down onto asphalt. Hawaii County officials said the fence is about 100 yards from the building.
A ravine and catchment pond lie between the lava and the building, where Apaa Street becomes Cemetery Road.
Hawaii County officials said Tuesday afternoon that three active breakouts continue to advance behind the stalled flow front. The breakouts are in the area of the cemetery below Apaa Street, above Apaa Street in the area west or upslope of the transfer station, and .3 miles upslope of Apaa Street, officials said.
They said the breakouts do not pose an immediate threat to area residents but will be monitored closely.
On Monday, a finger from the flow that began June 27 ignited its first house nearby on Cemetery Road around 11:55 a.m. The house collapsed at about 12:45 p.m.
It was the first house to go up in flames since the lava moved into Pahoa more than two weeks ago. Since then the lava has crossed Apaa Street, overrun a Buddhist cemetery and destroyed multiple structures.
Oliveira said a garage/barn structure also on the property remains intact — for now.
According to county documents, the 45-acre lot belongs to Mary and Woodrow Pelfrey as part of a trust called Four Pelfrey Trust, based in Fairview, Ore. They bought the property in 1985 for $54,700. Until Monday the value was about $200,000, Oli-veira said.
The Pelfreys built the ranch-style two-bedroom, two-bathroom house in 1992.
