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Lava breakout burning through asphalt

PUNA, BIG ISLAND (HawaiiNewsNow) - Hawaii County Civil Defense officials say a Puna lava flow breakout is continuing to advance through the Pahoa Transfer Station -- burning through asphalt of the driveway that surrounds the buildings on the property, but has not come into contact with any of the structures yet.Officials say the breakout progressed up and over an embankment Monday night and has since broken off into at least five or six narrow fingers that are cascading down into the driveway into a drainage ditch. They say it's expected to take awhile to fill, because it's 10 feet below the grade the structures are built on. The drainage ditch was designed to divert run-off from heavy rain. According to officials, the fingers range in width from a 1-2 feet to 10 feet and all appear to be advancing toward Apaa Street. There is no hazardous materials on site -- officials say all compactors and hydraulic equipment was moved off the property weeks ago.Officials say they are closely monitoring three breakouts: in the area of the cemetery below Apaa Street; above Apaa Street in the area west or upslope of the transfer station; and 0.3 miles upslope of Apaa Street, after advancing another 225 yards in the past 24 hours. Hawaii County Civil Defense Director Darryl Olivera says none of the breakouts currently pose any immediate threats to area residents. Aside from the flow lobe that is moving through the transfer station and burning road material, officials say the other breakouts are only in contact with vegetation.Hawaii County officials confirm the breakout that claimed the first house along Apaa Street Monday is still active on the residential property.They say amazingly, the barn and garage is still standing -- even though the flow came within 2 feet of the structure.USGS geologists with the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory say although the leading edge of the flow has not advanced beyond where it stalled on October 30, about 480 feet above Pahoa Village Road, but breakout activity continued in areas upslope of the leading edge.HVO scientists conducted a helicopter overflight Wednesday morning to assess the progress of the lava flow and found the closest active lava to Pahoa Village Road was located several hundred meters upslope of the road, below the Pahoa cemetery. Experts say the majority of activity is happening further upslope where breakouts are significantly inflating and expanding the flow -- in some spots reaching heights of 18 feet and widening to a little more than a half mile across.Smoke conditions Wednesday morning are reportedly moderate to heavy with light trade winds blowing the smoke in a south southwest direction towards the Leilani and lower Puna areas. Residents down wind who may be sensitive or have respiratory problems are advised to take necessary precautions and to remain indoors, should the winds shift or smoke conditions increase.Civil Defense Director Oliveira says 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.