Lava continues to cascade down a small slope into the closed Pahoa waste transfer station where it is filling a low spot along the perimeter of the nearly $4 million facility.
Lava continues to cascade down a small slope into the closed Pahoa waste transfer station where it is filling a low spot along the perimeter of the nearly $4 million facility.
Darryl Oliveira, Hawaii County Civil Defense administrator, said the molten rock is producing a plume of black smoke as it burns asphalt but is keeping its distance from structures on the property, most of which are made out of steel and concrete.
The driveway that circles the transfer station acts like a “moat” and is currently preventing lava from advancing much closer to the center of the property, he said.
“It has to fill out or come around from a different direction,” Oliveira said.
He described smoke conditions as moderate to heavy Wednesday but noted that winds are helping to keep air clear over populated areas.
Meanwhile, a lava breakout mauka of the transfer station advanced another 225 yards as of Wednesday morning. Oliveira said it could reach Apa‘a Street in three to five days if it maintains its current rate.
Lava continued to be active on property off Cemetery Road where a house was destroyed on Monday. Oliveira estimated that breakout has advanced about 70 yards since Monday.
Except for a small garden shed on that property, no other structures have been destroyed this week.
That lobe remains about 400 to 500 yards form the nearest residence, Oliveira said.
The flow front remains stalled 480 feet from Pahoa Village Road.
County Department of Environmental Management closed the transfer station Oct. 24 as lava approached. Equipment and garbage and recycling bins were relocated to a temporary site behind the Pahoa Community Center.
The transfer station was dedicated in 2011 as part of a $3.95 million renovation project.
With use of recycled construction material, rainwater collection and solar power, the facility was seen as a model for other transfer facilities around the Big Island. It also included a small community gathering place and bamboo information kiosk.
In 2012, Environmental Management received the Solid Waste Association of North America’s bronze award for the facility’s design.
Email Tom Callis at tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com.