Yahoo News Weird blue fire is seen dancing above roads as Hawaii’s volcano rages
The world has watched as burning red lava has streamed from multiple fissures on the Kilaeua volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island.
But a new video has captured a truly eerie phenomenon – blue flames dancing above cracks in a road as the lava burns through trees and shrubs.
The video, shared by the US Geological Survey (USGS) captured the fire – most visible at night – which is caused by methane produced by the lava.
Not just a pic, here's the video. Buried and burning vegetation produces methane, igniting in road cracks to produce a blue flame. Kīlauea Volcano’s Lower East Rift Zone. https://t.co/RGbJxzEYxF pic.twitter.com/2H1iPpzcKZ
— USGS Volcanoes (@USGSVolcanoes) May 23, 2018
The blue flames were spotted in Kahukai Street, in the Leilani Estates Subdivision.
The USGS says, ‘When hot lava buries plants and shrubs, methane gas is produced as a byproduct of burning vegetation. Methane gas can seep into subsurface voids and explode when heated, or as shown in this video, emerge from cracks in the ground several feet away from the lava. When ignited, the methane produces a blue flame.
‘Intermittent short bursts of methane are visible in the center area of the video. Lava fountaining is visible to the right and left sides of the video.’
