(ABOVE PHOTO) USGS HVO: “Minor breakouts of lava ooze from the margin of the June 27th lava flow on the afternoon of Thursday, October 30, 2014. These breakouts are located about 100 meters (110 yards) behind the leading edge of the flow.”

NEWS BRIEFS

• The lava flow front has not advanced since yesterday and remains 480 feet from Pāhoa Village Road.
• Civil Defense is also monitoring breakouts upslope of the flow front.
• Police report two Puna residents were arrested Thursday for trespassing into a restricted area near active lava.

PRIMARY SOURCES

The flow continues to remain active however has not advanced since yesterday. The flow front remains 480 feet from Pāhoa Village Road. The front area has shown signs of widening with breakouts along the flanks or margins. Currently the flow front is approximately 60 yards wide. A new breakout located upslope from the flow front on the north side is active and advancing in a northeast direction and will be monitored closely. Additional breakouts above the Apaʻa street area along the north side of the flow area also being monitored closely.

Smoke conditions continue to be light moderate with trade winds from the northeast pushing the smoke in a south southwest direction. Presently burning activity is involving a variety of materials and smoke conditions may increase in some areas. Residents down wind that may be sensitive or have respiratory problems are advised to take necessary precautions and to remain indoors. Additional health advisories may be issued depending upon materials involved with any fires associated with the lava flow.

Based on the current flow location, direction and advancement, residents in the flow path were placed on an evacuation advisory and notified of possible need for evacuation. The evacuation advisory for those residents down slope of the flow will continue and residents will be kept informed of the flow status and advancement.

The Pahoa Village Road between Apa’a Street and the Post Office Road will remain closed and limited to area residents only. Motorist should use caution and slow down on Highway 130 near the Post Office Road intersection. Residents of the restricted area should not bring unauthorized persons into the restricted area. In addition, Civil Defense and public safety personnel will be operating in the area round the clock to maintain close observations of flow activity. Additional updates will be broadcasted as conditions change.

Hawaii County Civil Defense on Oct. 31 at 8 a.m. HST

Activity Summary: Kīlauea continued to erupt at its summit and within the East Rift Zone, and gas emissions remained elevated. As of Friday morning, the leading edge of the June 27th lava flow is stalled in a residential area approximately 155 meters (170 yards) above Pāhoa Village Road. Scattered breakouts of lava are active in several areas behind the leading edge. DI deflation continues at the summit, and the level of the summit lava lake has dropped as a result.

June 27th Lava Flow Observations: HVO scientists monitored the distal end of the June 27th lava flow from the ground throughout Thursday and into early Friday morning. The leading edge of the flow is no longer active, although scattered breakouts are present about 70 meters (77 yards) behind the stalled front. The lobe just downslope of the Pāhoa cemetery was active overnight, burning trees in a forested area and causing numerous loud methane busts. The breakout along the north margin of the flow above Apaʻa Street was also active and had advanced to within about 40 meters (44 yards) of the transfer station and the street, although it is sluggish Friday morning, advancing at a rate of only 2 meters (yards) per hour. A new, small breakout on the south margin of the existing flow above Apaʻa Street is advancing slowly downslope and destroyed a small structure for cattle on Friday morning.

Puʻu ʻŌʻō Observations: The tiltmeter on the north flank of Puʻu ʻŌʻō experienced a malfunction at about noon on Thursday, temporarily preventing an analysis of tilt there. Other indicators of volcanic activity near Puʻu ʻŌʻō, however, show no significant change over the past day. Seismic tremor remained low steady, no earthquakes were located in the vicinity of the cone, and webcams revealed no variations in the pattern of glow from degassing vents nor the configuration of the crater floor. The most recent sulfur-dioxide emission-rate measurement for the East Rift Zone was 340 tonnes per day (from all sources) on October 23, 2014.

Summit Observations: Tiltmeters at the summit recorded continued deflation due to the DI event that started on Wednesday afternoon. The level of lava within the summit vent accordingly dropped by several meters, as is common during DI deflation, and is now about 70 meters (77 yards) below the floor of Halemaʻumaʻu Crater. GPS receivers in the summit area have recorded slight net contraction across the caldera since early July. The most recent sulfur-dioxide emission rate measurements for the summit were 2,700–3,600 tonnes/day (see caveat below) for the week ending October 21, 2014. A small amount of particulate material was carried aloft by the plume. USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory on Oct. 31 at 8 a.m. HST

Two Puna residents were arrested Thursday (October 30) for trespassing into a restricted area near active lava.
Shortly before 6 p.m. Thursday (October 30), police responded to a report of two persons who were in the vicinity of an active lava flow located above Pāhoa town. Upon arrival, officers observed a man and a woman facing the flow within five feet of the lava and taking pictures. They were in possession of two golf clubs that had a ball of hardened lava on the end.

The pair were on County of Hawai‘i property beyond a fence. The path of travel indicated they had crossed private property to reach the viewing location. Sixty-five-year-old Ruth Crawfort of Ainaloa and 59-year-old Stephen Koch of Nānāwale were arrested for the offense of second-degree criminal trespassing.

Officers later located a pickup truck and sports-utility vehicle in the Pāhoa Community Center parking lot registered to each arrested individual. Through the front windshield, officers observed household utensils dipped in lava on the dashboard.

Crawford and Koch were each charged with the offense and then released after posting $250 bail each.

Police encourage members of the public to report sighting of persons who may be trespassing near the active lava flow or in areas beyond police barricades.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.Hawaii County Police Department on Oct. 31