POHOIKI, Hawaii – No evacuations were necessary following this morning’s Puna Geothermal Venture steam release, a Hawaii County Fire Department dispatch says.

The alarm sounded at 2:52 a.m. concerning a “possible explosion and gas release” at PGV in Pohoiki, and the first unit was on the scene at 3:06 a.m.

Fire crews say an employee at the power plant told them there was a system malfunction, no explosion, and confirmed a steam release.

The county’s HazMat team responded to the “immediate area, perimeter of property, adjacent subdivisions and downwind of property”. The teams monitored for H2S and SO2, and came up with “negative findings”.

The HazMat team also “made entry to source of leak and areas monitored again 2 hours later with negative findings,” the fire department reported.

“Based on all available data, there is no threat to the public and no evacuation is necessary,” stated the civil defense alert that was circulated at 4:14 a.m. “Fire Department is on scene and Civil Defense will continue to monitor.”