Lava makes it inside fence around county waste facility
Above, lava entered the grounds of the Pahoa transfer station Tuesday.
A Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist Tuesday examined the lobe of the June 27 flow that destroyed a home Monday. The lobe had inflated significantly by Tuesday, its surface rising with incoming lava.
PAHOA, Hawaii » Lava from Kilauea Volcano flowed through a fence surrounding Pahoa’s $3.5 million waste and recycling center Tuesday afternoon, one day after it burned a nearby house.
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.
Lava near the transfer station advanced approximately 220 yards since Monday morning.
A ravine and catchment pond lie between the lava and the building, where Apaa Street becomes Cemetery Road.
The station was one of the first sites officials expected to be hit by the flow months ago. The county’s Department of Environmental Management started preparing for its possible destruction in September, and a temporary transfer station site is in operation.
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 0.3 mile upslope of Apaa Street, officials said.
They said the breakouts do not pose an immediate threat to area residents, but will be monitored closely.
