Categorized | Environment

Wildfire born of lava burns 75 acres in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

MEDIA RELEASE

There is currently no lava activity on Kilauea Volcano’s east rift. However, a lava flow from the Kamoamoa Eruption has sparked a slow-moving wildfire.

Park firefighters report that at least 75 acres have burned during the past 24-hours.

The lava-ignited fire is creeping through ohia forest, fueled by uluhe fern. The wildfire is burning in an area that has burned on at least two previous occasions due to lava flows.

In preparation, firefighters have set up large dipping ponds at two locations on Chain of Craters Road in the event water bucket drops are needed Tuesday (March 15).

Firefighters will fly over the area Tuesday morning to assess the fire threat situation and determine what response, if any, to take.

This afternoon, two webcams set out by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory captured images of the smoke rising from the burn area.

The webcam images can be viewed at

  • http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/cams/NCcam/
  • http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/cams/KWcam/

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