June 27 Lava Flow May Reach Apa’a St. in 16 Days

A new projection issued Monday by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory states that lava from Kilauea Volcano may reach Pahoa’s Apa’a St. in 16 days.

In the HVO’s volcanic activity notice issued Tuesday morning, it based its projection on the lava moving at approximately 390 feet per day. The estimation can still fluctuate, as the speed of the June 27 Kilauea lava flow has moved at various rates of speed in the past month.

According to the HVO, the leading front of the flow is approximately 1.2 miles upslope of Apa’a St. “along the steepest descent path” and 1.1 miles upslope along a straight line.

The lava flow front is approximately 1.7 miles away from Pahoa Village Road.

Since Oct. 3, the flow has advanced about 390 feet each day. The front of the flow is approximately 230 feet wide and moving downslope.

According to Tuesday’s overflight by Hawai’i County Civil Defense, the lava flow front advanced about 120 yards since Monday and is moving along a tree line, creating a moderate to heavy amount of smoke that may build up as winds pick up speed throughout the day.

The lava flow is directly responsible for a brush fire that was contained Monday afternoon on the Mauka side of Highway 130, approximately 0.5 miles from the road. The Hawai’i County Fire Department reported last night that about 293 acres of land was burned. HFD personnel remains on scene today to mop up the blaze.

The Federal Aviation Administration has imposed a flight ban around the active lava flow.

Effective immediately, flight restrictions are in place for any aircraft not authorized by Civil Defense within two nautical miles of the active flow front and 4,000 feet above ground.