(ABOVE VIDEO) Bill Hanson with Hawaii County Civil Defense updates a group gathered on the campus of Kua O Ka Lā New Century Public Charter School on the current lava flow. Video by David Corrigan.

NEWS BRIEF

• Bill Hanson told residents of Lower Puna gathered at Kua O Ka La charter school on Monday night that the lava flow has stalled at the front, and breakouts on the north side of the lava flow “don’t appear to be something – at this time – that looks like its going to take off.”
• Hanson said the brushfire that ignited Saturday as the flow front moved out of the forest and into dry vegetation is contained. On Sunday, a fire break was cut to the north of the fire. A road was also cut to get to a shed behind the Malama Market area.
• Hanson said the county is planning to “take out” Highway 130 at the point where the flow will intersect with it, once that point is known with certainty. Officials hope that by taking out that part of the road, it will be easier to come back behind the flow and restore the road when the time is right; it could be days, months or years, Hanson said.

A civil defense message issued this morning confirms that the flow front is still not moving.

Bill Hanson, Hawaii County Civil Defense, speaking at Kua O Ka La Charter School in Puna.