Fingers of lava continued to flow down a small embankment into the closed Pahoa waste transfer station where it was burning asphalt Wednesday. ADVERTISING Fingers of lava continued to flow down a small embankment into the closed Pahoa waste transfer
Fingers of lava continued to flow down a small embankment into the closed Pahoa waste transfer station where it was burning asphalt Wednesday.
Darryl Oliveira, Hawaii County Civil Defense administrator, said lava was not advancing far from the perimeter fence and was not contacting any structures at the $3.95 million facility.
He described smoke conditions as moderate to heavy Wednesday but noted that winds were 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 finished in 2011.
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.
