PAHOA, HAWAII » The front of the lava flow coming from the Kilauea Volcano advanced another 10 yards Sunday.

Hawaii County Civil Defense said the front of the flow remains active but sluggish, moving 15 yards on Saturday after stalling for five days.

Last week the flow front stalled 0.4 miles from the Pahoa Market Place after several days of slow progress, according to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

The approaching lava has prompted the closing of several businesses in and near the shopping plaza, including Longs Drugs, a large grocery store and a gas station. Hawaii County officials also decided to open Railroad Avenue, an alternate access route in and out of the area, in order to give residents time to adjust if Highway 130, the main artery, is cut.

More than 9,000 people live in the lower Puna district.

The front of the flow, 30 yards wide, was about 0.6 miles above the Highway 130 and Pahoa Village Road intersection on Sunday, and about 690 yards from Pahoa Market Place.

There are also numerous surface breakouts and activity along both margins upslope of the front, but that activity does not pose an immediate threat to area communities, Civil Defense said.

Smoke and vog conditions were moderate Sunday morning, with light, variable winds allowing the billows to settle across the eastern end of the island, from Puna to Hilo.

The state Health Department has installed three monitors in Pahoa and Leilani Estates to measure air quality.

That information can be viewed online at emdweb. doh.hawaii.gov/air-quality.

The Pahoa Recycling and Transfer Station is open for public viewing of the lava from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. daily except New Year’s Day.

Lava rolled into the waste and recycling center in November.