Hawaii’s Kilauea Volcano has been continuously erupting from its Pu’u O’o vent since 1983, but it rarely threatens the lives or property of those who live in the region. Unfortunately this one might.

This slowly moving stream of lava bubbled out of the rock on June 27 and had come to a halt in late September. Last week however, the flow began to creep forward again and has since covered about 450 yards.

It may be slow moving, but such unstoppable heat can still pose a serious threat.

Currently the flow’s leading edge, about 40 yards wide, is a mile from the village of Pahoa and two miles from Highway 130. Pahoa is a historic former sugar plantation with a population of around 800, and Highway 130 carries up to 10,000 cars per day.

Initially the flow caused a voluntary evacuation of many residents in the Kahoe Homestead subdivision as it approached their homes; but it then shifted through a vacant part of the neighborhood and toward the larger town of Pahoa.

Since Sunday, the lava flow has moved forward about 150 yards, but officials say there is no immediate danger to local communities. About 4,000 people live in the residential communities the lava is approaching however, and thousands more in the Puna district could become isolated if Highway 130 is blocked by the flow.

Luckily, this stream of lava is not expected to spark a wildfire due to recent rains; but insurance companies have stopped selling policies to cover homeowners in the area for damage from lava since the threat is so present.

According to the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency, no evacuations have yet been ordered.