MEDIA RELEASE

The east rift zone eruption is currently in a hiatus. The east and west Kamoamoa fissures are still fuming, but no lava is erupting. Pu`u `Ō `ō is the fuming cone in the background. Photo taken March 10 by HVO/USGS

Park firefighters report that over 1,166 acres have burned during the past 48 hours. Although the fire area received scant rainfall overnight, the strong gusty winds today have pushed the fire south west toward Holei Pali.

Hawaii Volcanoes’ firefighters are holding the fire to the east and north of the Chain of Craters Road.

The lava ignited fire is moving through an area that has at least burned twice previously due to lava flows. The wind driven fire is fueled by uluhe fern and ohia trees. Smoke may be visible from many locations near the park.

The Chain of Craters Road remains closed at Mau Loa o Mauna Ulu.

Additional firefighting resources from California have been ordered and are expected to arrive Friday, March 17, 2011.

Two webcams set out by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continue to capture the images of the smoke rising from the burn area.

The webcam images can be viewed at
http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/cams/NCcam/ and, http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/cams/KWcam