HILO, Hawaii — The Hawaii National Guard is no longer needed to help deal with a lava flow threatening Puna.
The lava remains active, but it has been sluggish.
Hawaii County officials on Monday allowed the withdrawal of National Guard soldiers who were deployed to Pahoa in October to help maintain security. More than 80 unarmed members of the Hawaii Army and Air National Guard were sent to help police with roadblocks and other security tasks as the slow-moving lava approached.
Hawaii County Civil Defense Administrator Darryl Oliveira said he's been assured the soldiers can return quickly if they're needed again, the Hawaii Tribune-Herald reported Saturday. "If things change, we can count on a quick response from the Guard if we need their assistance," he said.
The lava hasn't gained ground since it advanced 50 yards on Jan. 26.
On Saturday, the leading edge of the flow remained about 0.36 miles from the area of Highway 130 to the west of the Pahoa police and fire stations, the civil defense agency said.
The northern lobe was on a path that would have taken it to the Makuu Farm Lots.
"At this point, it suggests that northerly lobe can no longer transport (lava) through whatever tube or conduit system existed within that lobe," said Steve Brantley, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory's deputy scientist-in-charge.
