Lava slows down; crews fight brushfire

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Lava from the June 27 flow continued to advance slowly Sunday as fire fighters worked to contain a brushfire nearby.

Lava from the June 27 flow continued to advance slowly Sunday as fire fighters worked to contain a brushfire nearby.

Hawaii County Civil Defense reported Sunday that the flow advanced 75 yards between its daily overflights.

“This drop in advance rate over the past two days may be due to a reduction in lava supply related to ongoing summit deflation,” Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said on its website. “If so, the flow advance rate could rise again in the coming days as the summit resumes inflation.”

The fire, caused by the flow, was in a remote area above Apaa Road. Officials said no structures or properties were threatened.

The Hawaii County Fire Department and other agencies were working to contain the fire and prevent threats to neighboring communities.

That work continued Sunday, according to a Civil Defense lava status update.

“The Hawaii Fire Department and the Department of Public Works are working to contain the fire area and to prevent any threat to neighboring communities,” Civil Defense said Sunday. “This morning there was very little fire activity with several hotspots within the perimeter.”

Smoke conditions were moderate to heavy Sunday morning, though that was expected to decrease with the return of trade winds.

Officials said no evacuation was necessary yet, and that they would give residents adequate notice to safely evacuate, should it become necessary.

The next lava flow community update meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the Pahoa High School cafeteria.

The county’s Incident Command Center and Informational Resource Center at the Pahoa Community Center remains open 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Construction activities on Railroad Avenue and Government Beach Road are continuing.