Lava Burns 2 Hawaii Houses; 4 Imperiled

Lava from Kilauea Volcano incinerated two homes in this rural Hawaii Island community Wednesday and was menacing at least four others. Authorities said that many more houses could be destroyed.

Residents of 59 of the 125 houses have been ordered to evacuate, and civil defense officials said those remaining should be ready to pack their belongings and get out within 72 hours.

The two frame houses were the 77th and 78th residences destroyed during Kilauea’s seven-year eruption and the first in the Kalapana area destroyed by lava since December, 1986. Property damage has been estimated at $20 million.

“Right now, the flow is very vicious, angry,” said Harry Kim, administrator of the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency. “Unless the eruption changes, a good portion of Kalapana Gardens is in danger.”

The first house, a rental owned by John and Ruth Duff in the subdivision of Kalapana Gardens, erupted in flames after the molten rock surged beneath the raised structure at dawn. Neighbors said the tenants moved out Monday. The second house, owned by Coren Lewisohn, burned five hours later when lava crept around a support pillar and ignited latticework.

The flow entered the community in and around Kalapana Gardens on Tuesday from the west and passed within a few feet of two houses, which remained standing Wednesday. The lava, making its way toward the ocean, flowed 100 yards down a gully and began approaching the Duff property at about midnight.

Ed Torrison, just 30 feet from the lava’s path, said he expected his house to be destroyed, too.

“It’s a shame to watch this sort of thing happen, but it’s kind of exciting, too,” Torrison said.

He said he was going to watch from his balcony until the last possible minute, and take pictures of his house as it burns. “I’ve got 12 shots left,” he said.

Reggie Okamura, a geologist with the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, said the flow probably would meander in the subdivision because it is relatively flat. Kim said the flow could not descend to the ocean without cutting through populated areas.

Some Kalapana Gardens residents loaded belongings onto trucks as the lava advanced.

“You kind of get used to it in some respects,” said Todd Dressler, who was evacuating Wednesday morning. “But when it comes down to the shocking reality, it’s hard to get used to.”