Hot, molten lava came streaming through a home set on fire Monday in a rural town of Hawaii as residents and local authorities watched helplessly.

This molten rock and flame reached the home before noon, said Hawaii County Civil Defense Director, Darryl Oliveira. Residents of the home had already left the house in Pahoa, which is the largest town on Big Island, and is located in the agricultural district of Puna.

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Oliveira reported it took around 45 minutes for the 1,100 square foot home to burn to the ground. He says the house was destroyed by the flames.

Before the lava flow hit that home, it burned down a makeshift corrugated steel storage shed. The property also had a garage type bar structure and the lava destroyed this, too. The next door neighbor is about half a mile away, according to Oliveira.

The lava originated from a vent in Kilauea volcano that ruptured in June. It started entering the town of Pahoa on October 26 as it crossed a country road in the edge of town. The lava began consuming part of a local cemetery and burned down a garden shed. It burned tires and metal material along with vegetation as it snaked its way through the town.

Oliveira says firefighters will allow a structure to burn when the lava flow touches it but they will prevent any wildfires occurring that can threaten other structures.

Relatives of the home that burned down arrived at the site to witness their house engulfed by the lava and flames. They captured the event via smartphone video. The Hawaiian county estimates the home suffered US$200,000 in damages.

Last October 30, the lava flow's leading edge stalled but it caused more breakage around seven areas upslope. The leading edge is still 480 feet away from the Pahoa Village Road, which is the main street of the town. Residents of the town are ready to evacuate if necessary.

TagsHawaii Lava Flow Destroys First Home in Pahoa, lava flow, US, kilauea volcano