For more than four months now, lava from Hawaii's Kilauea volcano has been crawling towards Pahoa, Big Island, prompting many of the residents to evacuate their homes as a precaution in case the slow-moving lava reaches the inhabited areas.
True enough, the decision of residents to gather their important belongings and leave their home was right, or at least for the owners of the first home swallowed by the flowing lava. Molten rock flowing from Kilauea volcano has already claimed its first house.
Darryl Oliveira, director of the Hawaii County Civil Defense, said that the lava set the 1,100-square-foot home on fire on Nov. 10 just before noon, and the lava only took about 45 minutes to devour the house.
Just like with many of the people who lived in the area, the tenants of the house had already left, aware of the dangers posed by the 2,000-degree Fahrenheit molten rock that has been crawling toward their hometown since late June. The extremely hot lava can destroy whatever it touches and, worse, it is hard to predict its path.
"The lava spread out and ignited the house before noon local time," said U.S. Geological Survey spokesperson Janet Baab. "There are no other homes in imminent danger. We are watching the flow closely and continue to monitor it."
Officials said that the Oregon-based owners of the house already left in September. There were no reports of injury as the river of hot lava engulfed the home, the first residential property to be destroyed by the flowing lava. Officials estimate the value of the 1,100-square-foot property to be about $200,000.
A relative of the owners of the house who arrived at the site drove for two hours to witness the structure burn, and also to take videos of the event.
Officials said that they are willing to assist homeowners who want to see their house burn as this could be a means of closure for them and to take photos of the destruction for insurance claims.
Although many have already evacuated, a few residents chose to remain, including Imelda Rara, whose home is on the same street and witnessed the smoke from the burned down house. She said that her family had already placed their belongings in storage and are prepared to leave their home if the lava gets close.
"I'm scared right now," she said. "What will happen next? We will be waiting."
