As the June 27 lava flow continues on its trajectory for Pahoa, state health officials are asking lower Puna residents who depend on regular medical treatment to consider evacuating.
Patients who receive oxygen, dialysis and other regular care that may require travel to or from Puna via Highway 130 will likely be impacted by lava crossing Highway 130, Civil Defense Administrator Darryl Oliveira said Wednesday.
“Puna Community Medical Center, Bay Clinic, and other health care service providers have expressed their commitment and desire to provide services in the event the roadway is affected,” he said, “but their employees may be limited on one side (of the flow) or another. … It’s prudent to do the responsible thing and let people know what this impact could result in, and if anyone has the means to be proactive at this time and find solutions that would prevent them from not having access.”
The lava steadily made its way down the mountain this week, advancing about 219 yards between Sunday and late Wednesday morning, according to Steve Brantley, acting scientist-in-charge with the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
“It’s moving downslope about (109 yards) per day,” he said. “It’s relatively narrow, about 100-110 (yards) wide, and the leading edge of the flow has been following the blue lines on various maps depicting the steepest descent path. It’s been following them very well, as of right now.”
Those blue lines showing the steepest descent path paint a grim picture for Pahoa, with Brantley providing a “long-term projection” this week that if the lava continues at its current rate, it could reach Apaa Street around Oct. 20.
Falling within or very near the likely path of the lava is Pahoa’s solid waste transfer station, but Oliveira reported Wednesday that facility continues to operate.
“The Department of Environmental Management is deciding on alternative locations for trash and refuse collection, there’s a number of different options,” he said. “They are still operational at the transfer station. They’ve said they want to, as long as possible, maintain normal operations. But eventually, they will likely need to terminate operations. They’ve already identified alternative sites, and we will be working with (Director) Bobby Jean Leithead Todd to decide when might be appropriate to begin evacuation plans.”
Scientists and Civil Defense workers also noted Wednesday several breakouts from the main lava flow as far as a mile behind the leading edge, as indicated by smoke from burning trees, as well as thermal images taken Wednesday morning. Breakouts were also visible around the location of a crack system about 5 miles upslope from the leading edge.
As for fire concerns, those were quenched by a steady downpour, Oliveira said.
The leading edge of the lava flow had ignited at the beginning of the week a runaway brush fire in the area that claimed about 300 acres. Private contractors and the Department of Public Works had earlier surrounded the area with firebreaks that had largely succeeded in keeping the fire contained.
Email Colin M. Stewart at cstewart@hawaiitribune-herald.com.