HILO >> Round-the-clock public viewing of lava flows was to resume today now that a major brush fire in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park has been contained, the park announced this morning. Public viewing of lava flows
resumes; brush fire containedBy Rod Thompson
rthompson@starbulletin.comThe Chain of Craters Road, which gives access to both the lava and fire areas, will be permanently open starting at 6 p.m. today, the park said. The road had been closed during the height of the fire, but last week it was reopened from 6 p.m. to midnight every night for lava viewing.
A one-mile trail leads to a viewing site from the end of the road, spokeswoman Mardie Lane said.
The fire which caused the closure was started by lava on May 17. It burned 3,660 acres, but firefighters kept it out of the most valuable part of nearby native forest.
The fire had not spread since June 2, but firefighters remained busy creating a 17-mile control line, completed yesterday, Lane said.
The cost to fight the fire was put at $1.5 million, about 60 percent for helicopter water drops, Lane said.
About 175 people fought the blaze at over the past month, including several federal "hotshot" teams from the mainland. The last of those will go home tomorrow but about 35 Volcanoes Park firefighters will continue mopping up until Thursday, Lane said.
The danger of new fires from lava continues although lessened by firebreaks created earlier.
A lava flow continues in the adjoining, isolated Royal Gardens subdivision. The status of a potentially threatened house there was not immediately available.