Lava stops flowing near Pahoa Transfer Station
lava bursts from a tumulus, or domed hill, Thursday, about 35 yards downslope of the cemetery in Pahoa.
This breakout of Pahoehoe lava Thursday was downslope of the house that burned on Monday.
As the lava flow inflates, a tumulus, or domed hill, can form. Occasionally the pressure within the flow can exceed the strength of the p?hoehoe crust, resulting in an outpouring of lava from the core of the tumulus. Lava burst from this tumulus about 35 yards downslope of the cemetery. A rocky block, presumably from the top of the tumulus, rests where the outpouring of lava began.
A Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist encounters a small brush fire along a lava breakout a few hundred yards upslope of the transfer station Thursday.
Lava inflates against a fence around the Pahoa Transfer Station Thursday.
Even though there was no activity at the flow closest to the transfer station, the lava was still hot enough to burn the asphalt beneath on Thursday.
PAHOA >>Lava is no longer flowing at a breakout that burst through a fence at Pahoa’s $3.9 million waste and recycling facility, Hawaii County Civil Defense officials said after an overflight Friday.
The flow moved over a parking lot in the rear of the facility and came within a few yards of the buildings before stopping.
Asphalt is no longer burning in the parking lot. But the flow continues to burn vegetation around its margins.
Smoke conditions Friday are moderate to heavy with a light south wind blowing the smoke in a north-northeast direction towards the Ainaloa, Hawaiian Paradise Park and Keaau.
Residents downwind that may be sensitive or have respiratory problems should take necessary precautions and remain indoors, officials said.
The weather service expects south winds for the next few days.
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The leading edge of the flow remained stalled about 480 feet above Pahoa Village Road.
But other breakouts area active near the area of the cemetery below Apaa Street, above Apaa Street, upslope of the transfer station, and 300 yards upslope of Apaa Street.
The breakouts do not pose an immediate threat to residents, Civil Defense said.
The closest active breakout is about 550 yards upslope of the stalled flow front, below the Pahoa cemetery.
